asked the Minister for Finance the arterial drainage works it is proposed to carry out in 1982; and the names of the schemes.
20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arterial Drainage Works.
19.
asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money it is proposed to provide for arterial drainage in County Leitrim in 1982.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
A decision has not yet been made on the extent of the programme of arterial drainage works to be undertaken in 1982.
Is the Minister of State aware that one of his colleagues has given a commitment that a certain river in Leitrim will be drained in 1982 under the arterial drainage works?
I am not aware of any commitment given by anyone. I am saying that details of the drainage works are not yet available.
Do I take it that the River Boyle in Roscommon is not included? Will the Minister of State confirm or deny that it is proposed to carry out this work in 1982?
As I said, the drainage to be carried out in 1982 has not yet been decided on.
I should like to remind the Minister——
Ask him.
——that drainage of the Boyle and Bonet rivers was to be started at the end of this year. Have they been? These are 50 per cent EEC funded.
It is not correct to say that they were to be commenced in 1981.
They were.
No money was provided in the Estimate. Final details of planning and drainage cannot be commenced until there is a firm commitment that money will be made available. That commitment was not made for 1981.
There were plans in the Department to have drainage of these rivers commenced this year and the Minister of State is not telling the truth.
The Deputy should ask a question.
Finance was provided for them and they are also 50 per cent EEC funded.
I know they are 50 per cent EEC funded but no financial provision was made to start on these in 1981.
Do the Department intend not to spend any money on arterial drainage in 1982?
I did not say that. I said there has been no finalisation yet of what is to be spent in 1982.
Does the Minister intend to allow his Department not to back up EEC funds which were made available for arterial drainage of schemes such as the Boyle and Bonet?
A decision has not been made yet for the programme in 1982.
I am calling Deputy Killilea and after that I will allow no further supplementaries on this question.
After the deliberations of the weekend and the numerous contacts made from the Dunkellin area regarding promises made by the Taoiseach, has the Minister now changed his mind concerning the cost-benefit of the survey of the Dunkellin river?
I do not have a question before me about that river.