§ MR. JOHN O'DONNELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware 995 that thousands of pounds worth of property has been annually destroyed on the land of the small farmers who live in the vicinity of the River Robe, in the Claremorris Union, county Mayo; whether petitions have been lodged with the Congested Districts Board asking that body to do something towards remedying the condition of affairs existing all over that district; and whether more than a year ago a promise was made by the Board to assist in the drainage of that river; and, if so, what is the reason they have failed to redeem their promise in a matter of urgency to numbers of poor people.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Congested Districts Board have been urged to undertake drainage operations on the upper reaches of the River Robe for the benefit of the congested districts through which the river flows, including some of the Board's estates. About 11½ miles of the lower portion of the river is already under the control of local drainage trustees. In July, 1906, the Board made an offer to the Claremorris Rural District Council to contribute two-thirds of the estimated cost of £3,500, provided that a drainage board should be formed which would undertake to carry out the proposed works on the upper part of the river and be afterwards responsible for their proper maintenance. It would seem to be for the district council to consider whether they can comply with the conditions upon which the Board made their offer of assistance.