asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that on July 8th, 1931, the Commissioners of Public Works informed the Monaghan County Council that they had instructed their engineers to prepare a drainage scheme for the Dromore area, and, if so, whether this is the same scheme as that which he stated in the Dáil on October 6th, 1937, was being investigated at the present time.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Monaghan Drainage Scheme.
On July 8th, 1931, the Commissioners of Public Works informed the Monaghan County Council that they had instructed their engineer to make a detailed survey of the Dromore district with a view to the preparation of a drainage scheme. This survey revealed that a satisfactory scheme for the area would necessitate works on a much larger scale than was previously envisaged following the preliminary engineering inspection. The scheme at present under investigation is accordingly a development of the original proposals.
Am I right then in inferring that the investigation of the Dromore drainage area has continued from the 8th of July, 1931, until the 6th of October, 1937, and that it was still going on?
I hope it will go on.
Do I understand the Parliamentary Secretary to state that this inquiry has gone on for the past six years, and that it is still continuing?
I said it is continuing.
I asked the Parliamentary Secretary a perfectly straight question, a question to which I think I am entitled to a categorical answer. I asked whether inquiries have been going on since the 8th of July, 1931, with regard to the Dromore drainage area, and if these inquiries are the same as those that are going on now; have these inquiries been going on for six years, and are they still going on. I asked this question because the general inference from it is that an inquiry of that kind continued for over six years must give a general impression that the whole business is a fraud, and that nothing effective is being done.
I have no reply to make to that speech.