Vol. 184 No. 3
asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the urgent necessity for a scheme of arterial drainage for the River Deel, the discontent and uncertainty that exists with reference to its date of commencement and place on the priority list, the repeated flooding of dwelling houses and roads, and destruction of crops and pastures, and the fact that the river bed is rising yearly, thus extending the area of flooding; and, if so, if he will state when this scheme will start.
19.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious flooding in the Deel River area; and when the scheme of arterial drainage for this river will be put into operation.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
I can assure the Deputies that there has never been any question of the Deel losing its place in the priority list. The catchment has been surveyed and the work of designing a scheme is in hands. Pending preparation of the scheme and compliance with the requirements of the Act in the matter of exhibition, consideration of observations and confirmation, I am not in a position to say precisely when drainage works can be commenced but it is intended to be the next major catchment on which works will start.
