HC Deb 12 June 1907 vol 175 cc1418-20
MR. MEEHAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Report of the county surveyor of Queen's County, stating that, during the month of September last, serious injury was caused by floods from the Barrow to the road and a portion of the embankment above Tinnahinch Bridge, and suggesting that, with a view to avoiding the danger of damage in this locality caused by floods, the river course, which has silted up below the bridge, should be cleared and widened for some distance down the stream, and stating that, by the advice of the Local Government Board, the question was brought under the notice of the Arterial Drainage Commission; whether he is aware that the county council have no authority to provide a remedy; and will he say what steps he purposes to take in the matter.

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received copies of resolutions adopted at a public meeting held at Portarlington on 30th May, 1907, for the purpose of promoting the drainage of the River Barrow; whether he is aware that the Arterial Drainage Commissioners, in their Report dated 23rd February, 1907, stated, in reference to this river, that the basin of the Upper Barrow suffered more from floods than any other part of Ireland, and that the condition of the district might be described as deplorable, and that the case of this river differed from others in Ireland once similarly circumstanced, in that no expenditure by the State had ever taken place, although the task of clearing the main outfall was manifestly far beyond the reach of private enterprise; and whether he proposes to take any steps to provide a scheme of drainage for the flooded area of the River Barrow.

MR. BIRRELL

I will answer these two Questions together. My predecessor received from the hon. Member the Report of the county surveyor referred to, and subsequently made a communication to the hon. Member on the subject. I have received the resolutions passed at the meeting held at Portarlington. The observations of the Arterial Drainage Commission as to the River Barrow are correctly quoted in the Question. I have already informed the hon. Member that before deciding upon legislation in respect of arterial drainage it will be necessary to consider the recommendations of the Commission as a whole. This will obviously take a considerable time, and meanwhile it would not be practicable to consider the question of undertaking a drainage scheme for the Barrow, or any other particular river.

*MR. MEEHAN

asked if there were not four towns in this flooded area with a total population of 11,000, without any suitable drainage or water supply, or the possibility of providing either, and could no remedy be applied to safeguard the property and lives of the people.

MR. BIRRELL

We really must consider the question as a whole.

MR. FLYNN

Has not the right hon. Gentleman realised that if Ireland had a system of Home Rule these things would have been remedied long since?

MR. BIRRELL

I think that is most likely.

MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.)

In view of the dropping of the Irish Council Bill will the right hon. Gentleman introduce a drainage Bill for Ireland?

*MR. MEEHAN

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that during his term of office any effort will be made to provide a remedy for an evil admitted to exist for half a century, which is increasing every year and which is ruining the health of the people and is a daily menace to their lives and property.

MR. BIRRELL

I can give no assurance.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

No, you only drain Ireland of public money.