asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money saved by postponing the survey on the drainage of the Dunkellin river, County Galway; and when this survey will be carried out.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dunkellin (Galway) Drainage.
6.
asked the Minister for Finance the estimated expenses for 1983 on surveys in connection with the Dunkellin drainage scheme, County Galway; and if he will reconsider his decision in view of the small savings involved so as to allow the surveys to proceed.
8.
asked the Minister for Finance the specialised studies being carried out in respect of the Dunkellin catchment drainage in County Galway; the amount provided in the 1983 Estimates to pay for these studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 8 together.
The funds available for arterial drainage in the Vote for Public Works and Buildings have been reapportioned to allow the specialist studies already commissioned, which are required in connection with the design of the Dunkellin drainage scheme, to continue to completion. The studies consist of an investigation of the likely effects of the drainage proposals on groundwater in the area and on the oyster beds at Clarinbridge.
When the Minister of State mentions the groundwater and the oyster beds will the studies include the Turlough at Rahasone, Craughwell which is a wildlife habitat?
The wildlife survey is being carried out by the Department of Forestry and Fisheries. That will have to be taken into account.
When will those surveys be completed?
There will not be any delay on the completion. They are going on as planned. I have not the date for the completion.
What is the cost of carrying out those surveys in the current year? Is the Minister of State aware that this small amount of money was cancelled in the budget which indicates that his Department have got very little priority for progress in this scheme and that it was only reintroduced following political pressure? What is the exact amount of money it is proposed to spend in carrying out those surveys and, hopefully completing them this year?
The survey is small. There are only two specialist people involved. It is impossible to say exactly what this will cost. I assure the Deputy that there will not be any hold up in relation to it but it is impossible to say when the survey will be completed. There are many things such as weather which will vary the cost. I cannot give the exact figure.
I expect my question to be answered.
Will the Deputy ask a question please.
I asked a question and the Minister of State refused to answer it.
There is nothing I can do for the Deputy under that heading.
The reason I expect the Minister of State to answer it or to explain otherwise——
The Deputy cannot make a speech.
I wish I was from Cavan-Monaghan but I am not. In view of the fact that in the budget statement those surveys were removed the Minister of State's Department must have had an estimate of expenditure and the scheme will not proceed because of this fact. If he does not have this estimate would he please give us the reason the Board of Works decided in their wisdom to cancel those urgent surveys needed as a forerunner to the drainage of this river?
I think the Deputy has got his facts a bit mixed up because the Board of Works never decided to cancel this.
The Minister for Finance did.
Sin ceist eile. This study is going on. Many things affect the cost of it but I assure the Deputy the survey will go on and will be completed. The total cost of the survey and the design work to bring this scheme to work stage, including the cost of the specialist study, will be £500,000. I will not go any further than that.
We have now got some new information. There now seems to be a distinction between the studies and the surveys. Can the Minister of State give us any figures for either studies or surveys? I am amazed that there are only two people working on this arterial drainage scheme.
I cannot separate them.
Could the Minister of State check if there is a figure so that we could get it next week? It is vitally important for us to know the amount of money being spent on those surveys. Could this question be put back until next week so that the Minister of State will have an opportunity to check?
That would be improper because there is a very small number of people involved in this particular study. It is not the practice to give the figure in relation to something like that.
(Interruptions).
Will the Minister of State answer Question No. 9?