asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the hardship caused to farmers in County Cork because of the flooding of fertile land on account of the absence of arterial drainage, and of the fact that farmers are unable to qualify for land project grants because their lands cannot be drained whilst the rivers are silted up; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Land Drainage.
31.
I am aware of the need for arterial drainage not only in County Cork but elsewhere in the country. As the Deputy will realise the problem is a very large national one which will take many years to solve and can only be tackled as available resources allow. The arterial drainage programme is proceeding on the basis of priorities settled from the outset and since upheld.
Can the priorities concerned ever be affected by new scientific and technical developments which might come to the attention of the Department since they were originally set?
I am quite sure they could be but as a politician I think that anybody who occupies this office would be very loath to upset the original list of priorities.