asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (1) the Catchment areas that have already been surveyed with a view to the preparation of comprehensive drainage schemes under the Arterial Drainage Act; (2) the Catchment areas in which the initial work for having them surveyed is proceeding, and (3) whether any of the preliminary work has been carried out in the Boyne Catchment area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arterial Drainage.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate the Catchment areas of which a survey has been made under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, and the order of priority in which it is proposed to have these drainage schemes carried out; further, whether he will state approximately the period of time estimated to have these schemes completed.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Question 30 and Question 31 together.
Surveys have been completed in the River Brosna Catchment (Counties Laoighis, Offaly and Westmeath), River Glyde-and-Dee Catchment (Counties Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Cavan), River Feale Catchment (Counties Kerry and Limerick).
Surveys are in progress in the River Lee Catchment (County Kerry) and the Akeragh Lough-Banna Catchment (County Kerry).
Apart from the hydrometric survey which covers the entire country, no preliminary work has been undertaken in the Boyne Catchment area.
The Brosna scheme will be undertaken first and will, it is estimated, take seven or eight years to complete. I am not in a position to say in what order schemes for the other catchments mentioned may be carried out or how long such schemes are likely to take.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply will he state if these schemes have been tentatively approved by the previous Government, and, if not, will he issue instructions to the commissioners to have a revised list of schemes prepared so that he will be able to place the Corrib and the Suck in Connaught higher on the priority list?
Of course there is a priority list and I am not responsible for that priority list as it is at the moment. Any changes that may be made in that list will be made as the result of a decision by my Government which I am sure will be approved of.
Is it the Parliamentary Secretary's responsibility to look after the drainage works and the drainage districts of Connaught or the drainage districts of the country as a whole.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to describe the priority list that he is working under now and which describes the Brosna as No. 1?
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state that, now that the Brosna drainage scheme is in hands, the Little Brosna will also be included?
In reply to Deputy O'Higgins I would say that the Little Brosna is not, in my opinion, in the present catchment area and it must be a separate scheme itself. With regard to Deputy Keyes' question the answer is that it is not a matter on which I can make a statement. A certain priority list has been given to me and any changes that may take place in that priority list, as I have said, will be with the consent of the Government.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say—I repeat my question— if it is his responsibility to look after the drainage problems of Connaught rather than the drainage problems of the country?
Certainly not. The business of the Board of Works concerns the area covered by the Government of this portion of this country.
Are we to take it, then, that the pronouncements of the Parliamentary Secretary are of no significance and that they are not to be taken seriously?
What are they, please?