asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the grave damage caused to farmers in the Pilmore-Youghal area, County Cork, by breaches of the sea embankment; and that the present temporary repairs are not going to solve the problem; and if he will have the whole position examined with a view to having permanent protection works carried out in order to save valuable land in this district from being taken away by sea erosion.

The present works being carried out by the Land Commission, estimated to cost £2,400, are in the nature of urgent interim repairs. The question of permanent protection works will be a matter for future consideration under the Arterial Drainage Acts.

40.

asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the grave damage caused to farmers on the Bury Estate, Little Island, County Cork, by breaches of the tidal embankments at Courtstown and North Esk, Little Island; and that a scheme was prepared for the reclamation of large areas in that district by his Department in conjunction with the Office of Public Works for the purpose of removing this menace; and if he will have the scheme re-examined by his Department.

Although the Land Commission have no liability for the protection of any lands on Little Island from tidal flooding they are at present arranging for the closure of breaches and the repair of other storm damage to embankments thereon in the townland of Courtstown.

I understand that a proposal was made many years ago to exclude the sea from the slob lands situated between Little Island and Foaty Island by constructing a tidal barrage across the inlet, but a scheme for this purpose was not prepared by the Land Commission as marine reclamation was not their function.

Is the Minister aware that officials of his Department, in conjunction with the Board of Works, spent at least two months preparing that scheme? If he wants the reference, the Chief Inspector of the Land Commission and an official of the Department of Lands were engaged on it for three months of public time and, as I understand it, the scheme is in his Department. Will he endeavour to have it found and see what he can do with it, in view of the condition of affairs there and in view of the responsibility of the Land Commission, which I think will be established in that area within the next few months?

I do not agree that there is any Land Commission responsibility in the matter. As I told the Deputy, they are at present repairing damage, due to the recent storm, to these embankments. There may have been inspections of this work but no such scheme as is referred to by the Deputy was ever prepared, as far as my information goes, by the Land Commission.

Can the Minister say if there is not a fund available for the repair of the embankments on the Bury Estate, Little Island, County Cork?

I do not quite understand the Deputy's question.

I am simply asking if there is not a fund available for the repair of the embankments on the Bury Estate, Little Island.

There is no particular fund available for the repair of the embankments in this estate, any more than in any other estate.

Would the Minister state then from what fund money was made available for the repair of these embankments in the recent past?

I understand work is going on there at present. If the Deputy wants that information, he had better put down a Question.

The Minister told him there was no fund.

I answered the Deputy's question in the form he put it. I said there was no fund specifically available for the Bury Estate, any more than for any other estate.

Has the sum stopped out of the purchase money originally for the repair of the embankments all been expended, or what has become of it? Such a sum was kept back in every single case.

If the Deputy wants to ask another question, let him put it down.

Arising out of the unsatisfactory nature——

I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment, Sir.

——of the Minister's reply, I wish to give notice of my intention to raise this matter on the Adjournment

I shall communicate with the Deputy.