asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to start work on the arterial draining of the river Blackwater.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Blackwater Drainage.
3.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that there will be sufficient EEC funds to complete the drainage of the Ulster Blackwater on this side of the Border.
5.
asked the Minister for Finance whether the Government intend to proceed with the Blackwater river catchment drainage scheme, County Monaghan; if he will confirm that £1.86 million was allocated in the Estimates by the last Government for expenditure in 1983 on this project; and the sums of money that have been allocated by the present Government for this project in the revised Estimates for 1983.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 4 and 5 together.
It is expected that work will start later this year on the outfall channels of the Blackwater catchment which are located wholly or partly in Northern Ireland. A scheme for the channels in County Monaghan is being prepared for formal exhibition under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 with a view to commencing works when the outfall channels are completed. At this stage I cannot say when these channels will be completed.
Under the terms of the relevant EEC Directive, the funds required for the joint Ulster Blackwater drainage scheme are to be provided by the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom assisted by way of a grant from Community moneys. I can see no reason why the funds to be thus provided will not be sufficient to enable the scheme to be completed.
A sum of £1.86 million has been provided in the current year's estimates for this project.
Will money from that EEC allocation of, I think, £5 million be available following the completion of the drainage on the Six Counties side of the Border? Is the Minister aware that this project was the subject of an EEC directive in 1979 which, now four years later, gives no timescale as to when drainage of the portion of the Blackwater in County Monaghan will be commenced?
As I have said, the scheme is being funded by the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom and there is grant money also from the Community. This grant money is paid as a refund for part of the work done, as I am sure the Deputy is aware. The outfall in the Northern part of the country will have to be done prior to any work being carried out in this part of the country. We are now preparing to take it up as soon as that happens. The scheme will have to be exhibited and put through the normal procedures under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Act of 1945. It definitely will be ready to be taken up. As a matter of fact there is £1.86 million allotted for this year to do that work as soon as the outfall channels are completed.
Can the Minister of State say what the £1.86 million will be used for? I presume it will not all be necessary for the survey of the river?
No, there will be funding if the outfall is completed on the Northern side of the Border. It is obvious that the job cannot be done until the outfall is done on the other side. I cannot say when that will be.
Is the Minister of State aware that on the Six Counties side the authorities have taken special measures to preserve wildlife and fishlife? For example, when they commence the project they will do one bank of the river first and then the other bank of the river and they intend to place weirs at regular intervals. Will the Minister of State ensure that the same will happen on this side of the Border when the project commences?
I have no information on that. But it is expected that work on the first stage of the scheme, that is the Benburb to Caledon portion, will get under way later this year — that would be on the northern side as I understand it — with the works on the Border and other channels North and South to follow immediately afterwards. I am sure that the Office of Public Works will take into account any protection of wildlife being provided on the northern portion but I have no information on that.
Mr. Leonard
Bearing in mind that this is the first such joint project, and that probably there will be others, is it not important that the criteria for apportioning this fund would be laid down prior to commencement of the work? Seeing that they are commencing in the North, where the outfall is, it would be important that the funds apportioned there would be used only in Northern Ireland because practically half of it is in Monaghan? Has the Minister of State in his brief the cost of surveying this — there have been extensive surveys carried out in recent years? Can he tell us what is the cost involved and if it will be funded in a similar way as the actual physical drainage?
The extent of the funding from the EEC is set out in the cost benefit analysis of both sides. That has been done. The benefit from the EEC fund will be apportioned as 53 per cent, 47 per cent respectively. I missed the point in the second part of the Deputy's question.
Mr. Leonard
Is the survey to date taken out of the FEOGA aid?
The aid from the EEC is paid out after the spending of money in proportion to the grant. That is not paid until the work is done and surveying and everything else can be included in the claim.
Is there a 50 per cent EEC funding for the Blackwater scheme? The Minister of State said "at the end of the year". Could he state the month?
I am sure the Deputy must be aware that the start of the scheme is the Northern side of the Border and I cannot say when that will start. The outfall in the North has to be completed before we start. I am trying to ensure that when it is possible to start here we are ready to start.