asked the Minister for Finance why between 1964-65 and 1969-70 there has been a decline from £1.48 million to £1.21 million in the amount spent under the capital budget on arterial drainage; if he will indicate what areas of activity have been cut back to bring about this reduction; and if it is Government policy to cut down the amount spent on arterial drainage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arterial Drainage.
25.
I wish to assure the Deputy that it is not Government policy to cut expenditure on arterial drainage work.
The drainage programme is proceeding in accordance with the long established priority lists and there is no intention to abandon that programme. Actual expenditure in the past few years has been affected by a number of factors principally the legal actions in the cases of the Boyne and the Maigue, and shortage of engineering staff in the Office of Public Works.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state if that accounts for the decline over that long period, at a time when Government expenditure in general rose to a considerable amount of money? Surely two legal actions could not have affected the matter to such an extent?
I should like to point out that the authorised strength of recruitment grade engineer—which is the grade mainly concerned—is 61; the number serving at the moment is 45. In other words, it is not just money alone; it is a shortage of engineering staff.
What steps are being taken to ensure that that shortage does not continue?
Steps are being taken at the moment and I hope that the position will improve. I should like to point out to the Deputy that if he goes back over the previous years he will find out that expenditure on arterial drainage exceeds the provision made.