asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to start work on the drainage of the River Laune in County Kerry and its tributaries; if any cost/benefit survey has been done on the river; and the position of the river on the priority list.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry River Survey.
6.
The Laune is No. 27 on the priority list of major catchments to be considered under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. It would not be possible, at this stage, to say when it may be reached in the drainage programme. Accordingly, no question of a cost/benefit study arises at the present time.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether there are any proposals in the Department of Finance to review the priority list?
I have no knowledge to that effect.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that, if there is no proposal to review the priority list, the cost/benefit analysis being done are not being availed of?
What I said was I have no knowledge whether or not the priority list is being reviewed. I was not asked the question the Deputy has just put. I have not got the information here. As regards the cost/benefit analysis, I am sure the Deputy will realise that this is only undertaken when the scheme is at a very advanced stage of preparation for a particular project. Therefore the latter part of the question does not arise. It will be done before the Shannon is drained.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that to get the full effect of the cost/benefit analysis, it should be done in time? It should be applied to the particular list, and if a scheme lower down in the list is found to be more beneficial having regard to the cost, that scheme should take priority.
We are getting away from the subject matter of the question.
I agree this study should be taken in time, but the time when it is appropriate, according to the technical people, is when a scheme is at an advanced stage of preparation.