Our responsibility
Local authorities are charged with responsibility to maintain Drainage Districts. The Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 contains a number of provisions for the management of Drainage Districts in Part III and Part VIII of the act.
Drainage Districts were carried out by the Commissioners of Public Works under a number of drainage and navigation acts from 1842 to the 1930s to improve land for agriculture and to mitigate flooding. Channels and lakes were deepened and widened, weirs removed, embankments constructed, bridges replaced or modified and various other work was carried out.
The purpose of the schemes was to improve land for agriculture, by lowering water levels during the growing season to reduce waterlogging on the land beside watercourses known as callows.
Drainage Districts cover approximately 10% of the country, typically the flattest areas.
Further information
For more information phone the environment section at 057 866 4000 or email environmentadmin@laoiscoco.ie