asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the finalisation of plans and surveys for the Mulkear arterial drainage scheme, affecting areas in the Counties of Limerick and Tipperary, is held up due to staff shortages; and the steps it is intended to take to resolve this serious problem.
Written Answers. - Limerick-Tipperary Drainage Scheme.
255.
A considerable amount of work remains to be done before a drainage scheme for the Mulkear catchment can be formulated. Progress on the preparation of schemes for the Mulkear and other catchment areas as well as other engineering projects has been impeded by shortage of engineering staff. To relieve this situation two competitions for posts of engineer in the Office of Public Works have been held in the past year. To date 13 engineers have been appointed from these competitions and there are prospects of further recruitment from the most recent one, held in November last. A further competition will be held soon. I might add also that a claim for revision of the salary scale of engineers in the civil service is being considered under the conciliation and arbitration scheme.