§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state how often during the past 12 months the sluice gates at Meelick, on the Shannon, near Athlone, have been raised, and for what period of time were they kept raised on each occasion; and if he will furnish particulars of the rainfall and floods in the district referred to prior to and since the sluice gates were put in?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere are 30 sluices at Meelick in the main channel and new cut, which are opened and closed in whole or in part in accordance with the state of the river above and below. The sluices were open in greater or less degree on 304 days in the year, 3rd. May, 1908, to 2nd May, 1909 (the latest date for which the records are available). On 61 days they were entirely closed. The particulars are as follows:—
Days. Average open. 3rd May to 3rd July 62 8½ 4th July to 25th August 56 0 29th August to 30th August 2 2 31st August to 2nd Sept. 3 0 3rd Sept. to 6th Sept. 4 2 7th Sept. to 8th Sept. 2 0 9th Sept. to 9th Dec 92 12 10th Dec. to 9th March 91 26 10th March to 2nd May 53 19½ Average for the whole "open" period of 304 days, 14½ sluices out of 30 sluices.
It would take a very long time to get together the information asked for in the last paragraph of the question even approximately, and when collected it would be of little use, as the floods at Meelick are not caused solely or mainly by the rainfall in that district.