asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the Six Counties' Government is prepared to undertake the drainage of the Fane River if the Government will undertake the drainage of that part of the Fane which is in the State; and whether he will arrange to have the drainage undertaken forthwith.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage of Fane River.
4.
As indicated in reply to a previous question by the Deputy, it will be some time yet before the River Fane catchment area can be reached in the normal course of the arterial drainage programme. The Six County authorities have recently made an engineering survey of the portion of the river on the Border to investigate the possibility of carrying out some improvement works there, but I understand that no decision has so far been reached.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary inquire of the authorities in the Six Counties will they drain the river? I am told by a member of the Northern Ireland Parliament that they will, if we are prepared to act reciprocally on this side of the Border. If that is the fact, is it not desirable that the schedule laid down under the arterial drainage scheme should be reviewed and that we should undertake this work when the Six County Government are prepared to collaborate with us? If we do not do it now, they may not be prepared to do their part when we are ready to do ours.
That is an argument, not a question.
If the situation is such as the Deputy outlines, there would possibly be a case for re-examination, but any information I have leads me to believe that no scheme will emerge from the survey which has been carried out.
That is not in accord with my information.
Do not forget the river in which both of us are interested, the Dromore.
Is the Minister doing anything on it? I did when I was there. Deputy Sweetman, when Minister, gave me the money; is the Minister getting the money?