asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what has been done, under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, during the past 18 months, to remove the causes of silting and consequent flooding in the case of those rivers subject to serious flooding; the number of major drainage schemes completed; the number of such schemes on which work has been commenced; the number of men, apart from engineers, now employed on such schemes; the sum expended, up to the present, under the Act, in respect of river drainage; and the sum it is expected to spend on such work during the present and each of the next three financial years.
Written Answer. - Drainage Schemes.
Regarding the progress made to date under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, I would refer the Deputy to my statement in this House on 20th March, 1947.
I cannot at this stage make any useful forecast of the amounts which may be expended on the execution of arterial drainage works in the present or any future financial year.