Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1937 > Committee of Public Accounts > Report - Appropriation Accounts 1935 - 1936

APPENDIX V.

DRAINAGE REPAIR WORKS—COMMISSIONERS’ POWERS.

Memorandum regarding the powers of the Commissioners of Public Works to execute Drainage repair works and to make contributions towards the cost of such works, with special reference to the grant of £500 charged to Sub-head J (1).—Drainage Maintenance (Public Works and Buildings Vote, No. 11) in the year 1935-36 in respect of works of restoration in the River Lerr Drainage District.

Under the Drainage Maintenance Act, 1924, if it shall appear to the Commissioners that the drainage works in any drainage district are not in such good repair, order, and condition as to be fit and proper in the opinion of the Commissioners for their intended purpose, the Commissioners may execute such works as they consider necessary for the proper and effective repair of the drainage works in that drainage district, and such works may include any improvements to such drainage works which, in the opinion of the Commissioners, are necessary or proper and will not injuriously affect any person.

The money required to meet the cost of any such works may, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, be provided in any case subject to a maximum of one-half of the total cost of the works executed under the Act out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas. The balance of the cost may be defrayed by a contribution from the County Council or Councils concerned and by charges on the occupiers of the benefiting lands.

The Lerr Drainage District was restored in the year 1926-27 at a cost of £4,335 10s. 0d., towards which the Minister sanctioned a grant of £1,300 13s. 0d., i.e., 30 per cent. of the total cost, the balance being charged on the lands of the District by a Charging Order dated 1st February, 1928. The ratepayers represented that their share of the cost under this apportionment constituted upon them an undue burden, and the Minister then amended the grant, increasing it by £500 to £1,800 13s. 0d., the County Councils of Kildare and Carlow agreeing at the same time to make a joint contribution of £500—these County Councils being the bodies responsible for the management of the district before the work of restoration was undertaken.

On the 22nd August, 1934, a revised Charging Order came into force giving effect to the Councils’ contribution and to the additional grant, reducing the half-yearly charge on the proprietors accordingly and giving credit for all instalments paid under the original order.

The charge against sub-head J (1)—Drainage Maintenance in 1935-36—reflected the book-keeping transaction necessary to adjust our accounts in respect of the additional grant. Although full effect was given to this contribution in the Charging Order dated 22nd August, 1934, the transaction was not passed through the books until after the 31st March following.

It should be added that the Act provides that where the Commissioners execute any works under this Act in any drainage district in which the business of the drainage board or the trustees has not been transferred to a County Council the Minister for Local Government and Public Health upon the completion of such works shall by order transfer the business of the drainage board or the trustees of that drainage district to the proper Co. Council or Co. Councils and for that purpose the consent of such drainage board or trustees to such transfer shall not be necessary.

Chairman,

Office of Public Works.

22nd July, 1937.