The national arterial drainage programme is based on settled priority list of major catchments — over 100,000 acres — and minor catchments — 25,000-100,000 acres. At present construction works are in progress in two major schemes, the Boyle (Priority No. 13) and the Monaghan Blackwater (Priority No. 19) and one minor scheme, the Bonet (Priority No. 8). Works on the Boyle and Blackwater are expected to continue until 1993 while it is hoped to bring the Bonet scheme to a conclusion later this year.
In addition engineering surveys of four further catchments have been undertaken — the Suir (Priority No. 15 Major), Owenmore (Priority No. 16 Major), Mulcair (Priority No. 17 Major), and Dunkellin (Priority No. 10 Minor) — and schemes for these catchments are at various stages of planning. Priority is being accorded to the Owenmore and Mulcair where preliminary designs have been completed and cost benefit analyses and environmental impact assessments are currently being undertaken on both schemes.
It is expected that reports on the Owenmore scheme will be available later this spring and on the Mulcair in 1992. It is not possible to say when schemes for these catchments might commence pending the outcome of the studies referred to.