Vol. 441 No. 1
63 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Finance if he will have arrangements made to have a major arterial drainage carried out on the entire Barrow catchment area in view of the fact that it appears to have a lower priority than its urgency merits.
The powers of the Commissioners of Public Works to undertake drainage works are derived solely from the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 and relate to the carrying out of works by means of comprehensive schemes for entire river catchment areas.
The Barrow is No. 23 of 28 on the priority list of major catchments being considered for treatment under the Act. To date, 11 schemes have been completed, one scheme is in progress and a decision not to proceed has been made in three cases. A further three schemes are at various stages of examination.
The aim of the priority lists was to bring relief to the areas of greatest need as quickly as possible, allied to a fairly even distribution of schemes throughout the country.
I regret that there is little prospect of undertaking a major arterial drainage scheme on the River Barrow in the immediate future.
