asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing an intermediate drainage scheme to meet the popular demand for such a scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intermediate Drainage Scheme.
38.
While the need for drainage in these small catchments is appreciated it is considered that best use can be made of available resources and the national drainage problem more quickly resolved by concentrating on the major and minor catchments included in the published priority lists. As circumstances permit drainage schemes for the small catchments will be considered.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary recommend to the Government the re-introduction of the Local Authorities (Works) Act——
Deputies
Hear, hear.
——which has been demanded by the General Council of County Councils and by every county council in Ireland.
No, not at this stage.
May I inquire if it is intended to do anything other than what is being done at the moment, that is the arterial drainage schemes and the local improvements scheme. There are a number of other drainage schemes which should be carried out, some of them too small for the aerterial drainage scheme and too big for the local improvements scheme. I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to consider the type of scheme which comes in between.
We shall certainly examine any small scheme on its merits. Deputy O'Sullivan may be interested to know that we are hoping to expedite a scheme for the Toon and Buingea very shortly.
It is about time.
This is not considered a priority by my Department at this stage. I would refer the Deputy to the statement made by my predecessor on 7th December, 1966, when he outlined departmental policy on this matter in his Estimate speech.