asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to proceed with arterial drainage of the river Blackwater in Munster; and what number the Blackwater river holds on the arterial drainage priority list.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Blackwater Drainage.
26.
The Munster Blackwater is No. 22 on the priority list of major catchments and will be dealt with in its turn. I cannot say at this stage when it will be reached in the arterial drainage programme.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary now assure me and the House that he will send a copy of that reply to each member of the Mallow Urban Council and particularly to a man named Mr. Sexton who claims he brought this river down from 22 to 2 on the priority list on account of his friendship with the Minister for Defence?
Mr. Jerry Cronin, the Minister for Defence, has been persistently pressing the Commissioners about this river.
He has not got anywhere.
I would like to point out that such schemes as the Erne, the Boyle, the Suir, the Owenmore and the Mulcair are in the design stage and that these schemes will for many years use up the resources that are made available for drainage.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary a straight question: will he do as I suggest and send a copy of that reply to each member of the Mallow Urban Council?
I have no doubt it will be in the local paper.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not answer the question straight: did the intervention of the Minister for Defence bring this from a priority of 22 to 2?