§ MR. PATRICK JOSEPH O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the river dams in course of erection at Killaloe, in connection with the Shannon Drainage, were completely swept away by the recent floods; what was the total expenditure on these works up to the time of their demolition: whether there is any evidence to show that the catastrophe was owing to negligence and incapacity in the execution of the works; and, if so, who is responsible; is he aware that the portions of the river dammed off for excavation above and below the bridge were inundated for several weeks, causing upwards of 200 workmen to be thrown out of employment in the depth of winter; why were not the works secured 22 in the summer months, when the enclosure was laid dry, and the risk of the winter floods could be avoided; was the ordinary precaution taken to prevent leakage through the dams by using clay puddle or other approved material, or were the dams solely composed of active surface soil and the débris excavated from other parts of the works; was the side of the dam left exposed to the rapid current of the Shannon at that point unprotected by planks or other proper sheeting; will he inquire how it happened that the floods actually broke over the top of the embankments owing to their not being of sufficient height or width to protect the dam, though the material excavated and available on the spot for the purpose was carted half a mile away; and whether he will have full and independent inquiry made into all these particulars?
§ *THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.The hon. Member speaks in his question of river dams in course of construction; but I would point out that the dams in question were temporary dams, constructed in the usual manner from the excavations made near their site and at other parts of the works, and it was therefore impossible to keep a separate account of their cost. They were damaged by the great flood of December last, but were not entirely swept away. It was impossible to keep men at work in the bed of the Shannon during such floods, and therefore the works were suspended before the dams received any injury whatever. There was no negligence or incapacity in the construction of the dams, which were made and maintained in the manner usual in such cases. It would have been improvident to have erected them as if they were permanent works. They can be repaired at much less cost.