asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding drainage on the River Blackwater catchment, County Monaghan; the expenditure to date on the scheme; the proposed expenditure for 1984; and the extent to which the advertised scheme in the Northern Ireland basin of the River Blackwater is being matched by drainage work in County Monaghan.
Written Answers. - Monaghan River Drainage.
351.
The drainage scheme for the Blackwater catchment has been prepared and proposals for exhibition of the scheme, in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, are under consideration in my Department. No expenditure on construction works, on either side of the Border, has been incurred to date but costs approximating to £570,000 have been incurred by the Commissioners of Public Works in respect of survey and design work undertaken in connection with the scheme.
Pending a decision on the allocation of capital funds for 1984 it is not possible to predict the level of expenditure on drainage schemes generally for that year. The proposed scheme is a comprehensive one designed jointly by the respective drainage authorities on both sides of the Border; under the proposed scheme drainage work in County Monaghan would proceed in accordance with the programme agreed with the Northern Ireland Authorities.