asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious loss sustained by twenty families at Ballyhoe, Co. Meath, owing to the overflow of the Lagan river (Glyde drainage district) which raised the level of Descart and Ballyhoe lakes, and submerged most of the crops of these people; and if he would send an inspector to this district to report on the possibility of preventing such flooding in the future.

The lands referred to are in the Glyde drainage district, for the proper maintenance of which the County Councils of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath, acting through a Joint Committee, are now responsible. No useful purpose would be served by an inspection of the area.

The Deputy should not forget that a drainage district such as this was never intended to be able to cope with such floods as resulted from the recent abnormal rainfall.