asked the Minister for Finance the up-to-date position regarding the drainage of the River Shannon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Drainage.
21.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement which I made to the Dáil in connection with arterial drainage policy on 17th November, 1971, when introducing the Vote for Public Works and Buildings for the current financial year.
Further progress on the preparation of a number of arterial drainage schemes, including that for the River Shannon catchment, must await the results of the cost benefit study which is being undertaken.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary now comment on a statement made by a previous Minister for Finance in Castlerea on 5th July, 1964, stating that a "£15 million job on the Shannon will start next spring"—that would have been the spring of 1965?
That was prior to the by-election.
In February, 1965— that is my date—an attempt was made to take special steps to deal with the Shannon drainage scheme but, as I explained to this House before, there was difficulty in getting sufficient technical assistance to prepare the scheme. In 1967 investigations on the scheme were resumed and the hydrometric survey is still being carried out. I admit the amount being spent in surveying the Shannon in relation to the total cost of the scheme is very small but, as I say, the whole matter is under review at the moment.
What happened to the £15 million?
It is like the £100,000.
It was not actual money. It was a projection.
Was it the technical help or the £15 million the Minister had difficulty in finding?
(Cavan): They did not win the by-election despite the promises made and they dropped the scheme.