asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide finance to drain the River Termon at Pettigo, County Donegal as the scheme can be implemented in conjunction with the Northern Ireland authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pettigo (Donegal) Drainage.
23.
I have no proposals at present to undertake a drainage scheme for the River Termon. The current programme of cross-Border drainage agreed between the drainage authorities on both sides of the Border involves the consideration of schemes for the Finn-Lacky and Ulster Blackwater catchments only.
Is the Minister aware that a proposal was sent to his Department some years ago from the Donegal county development team? Would he agree that this is a positive commitment and would involve drainage that would facilitate farmers both on the Northern Ireland side and the Donegal side? If a proposal comes from the county council will the Minister give it some form of priority out of cross-Border money?
Cross-Border proposals are agreed already between the drainage authorities on both sides of the Border. The Termon river which flows into Lough Erne is not a listed priority catchment in the arterial drainage programme being carried out by the Commissioners of Public Works. It was considered in connection with a selection of schemes for rivers not included in the main arterial programme but it was found that the amount of damaged land in the catchment would be too small and scattered to make it an economic proposition for arterial drainage.