asked the Minister for Finance what percentage of the capital budget has been spent on drainage in each of the last ten years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage Expenditure.
14.
I presume that the question relates to arterial drainage.
The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
Year |
Expenditure(£ million) |
Percentage of Capital Budget |
|
1960-61 |
.95 |
1.65 |
|
1961-62 |
.95 |
1.58 |
|
1962-63 |
1.47 |
1.98 |
|
1963-64 |
1.63 |
1.94 |
|
1964-65 |
1.48 |
1.43 |
|
1965-66 |
1.27 |
1.04 |
|
1966-67 |
1.01 |
.91 |
|
1967-68 |
1.10 |
.92 |
|
1968-69 |
1.18 |
.65 |
|
1969-70 |
1.21 |
.65 |
Is it not the case that there has been a fairly steady decline in the proportion of the capital budget allocated to arterial drainage over the past ten years? Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider this to be a wise development in view of the benefits which can be derived by farmers from having their land drained?
I would suggest that when the Deputy sees the tabular statement if he would like to put down further questions next week, this would be perfectly in order. However, the figures for 1960-61 to 1963-64 include provision for engineers' salaries and they are not directly comparable with the figures for subsequent years, 1964-65 onwards, as these salaries have been charged elsewhere.
This error will not appear in the statement being circulated?
It is not a question of an error. It is a question of a change of administration.