§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that owing to the damming of the River Erne near Belturbet, in county Cavan, by an eel weir, the lands on the shores of Lough Gowna and the confluents thereof are perennially flooded, causing damage 856 to the farmers' crops along the river course; and whether any action will be taken by the Board of Works to compel the owners of this eel fishery to provide such sluices and other drainage apparatus as will prevent the continued flooding of this district?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)The Board of Works have no power to act in such cases except in default of action by a drainage authority, and the particulars given in the question are not sufficient to enable the Board to form an opinion whether any drainage authority has a duty or a power to act in this case. If the complainants' land lies within the boundaries of the Lough Oughter and River Erne Drainage District their best course would probably be to make their complaint to the drainage board of that district.