(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance the preparatory work which has been completed by officers of his Department in connection with proposals to drain the Mulcair river, County Limerick; the amount of money which is included in the 1989 Estimates for work in connection with the drainage of the Mulcair river; when the design work will be completed for the catchment area of the Mulcair river; when the scheme will be put on public display; when drainage work will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Mulcair River Drainage.
61.
Engineering field surveys required in connection with the preparation of a drainage scheme for the Mulcair catchment area have been completed by the Commissioners of Public Works and the design of a scheme is well advanced. However, I cannot say at present when the design work will be completed or when a decision in relation to the public exhibition and commencement of the scheme might be made. The question of providing money in 1989 for works on the Mulcair scheme does not arise.
(Limerick East): Do I understand from the Minister's reply that there is no money for the drainage of the Mulcair River or for any design work on it in the 1989 Estimate, that the project has been long-fingered once again and that the Minister is now in breach of commitments given by the previous Government and confirmed by him in the House last year?
That would not be correct Deputy. There are funds available for 1989 for work on the Mulcair river under the heading of the hydrology survey which has commenced, and that will continue.
(Limerick East): How much?
I have not got the figures of the amount available, but the staff are allocated and the work is proceeding.
(Limerick East): The question asks how much money is available.
The question asks if money is available for the drainage of the Mulcair river in 1989 and I have answered that. The question of how much does not arise as the design work and the cost benefit analysis have not been concluded. Until that has been done the question of money for drainage does not arise. However, moneys are allocated in my Department's allocation for work on arterial drainage schemes globally and that includes the Mulcair river.
(Limerick East): Does the Mulcair river still maintain its position as the number one catchment basin on the list to be dealt with when the Minister or his successors get round to it?
When the Deputy's party were in Government in 1986 they made changes vis-à-vis the priority of schemes for the first time since 1945. They decided on four rivers.
(Limerick East): That was a good decision.
There was a change in priorities.
Deputy Nealon was not told about it at the time.
Nor was Deputy Connaughton. The rivers decided on were the Suir, the Oranmore, the Mulcair and the Dunkellin. These four rivers were chosen to be proceeded with and were moved up along the line. Some were brought up and others were moved. Work is proceeding on all four rivers as decided at that time. The decision was that the work would proceed on design. We have allocated the resources to that and are proceeding with it.