Vol. 418 No. 4
84 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance when the arterial drainage works which are under way in the Monaghan Blackwater are likely to conclude; the number of people currently employed on the scheme; the plans he has for the continued employment of these persons when the scheme is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Construction works on the Blackwater (Monaghan) catchment drainage scheme are expected to conclude towards the latter part of the current year.
Drainage operatives are as a rule employed for the duration of the construction of the scheme in question with a small cadre being retained on a permanent basis for the post construction maintenance programme. In some instances it has also been possible to transfer personnel to other schemes in hands. In the case of the Monaghan Blackwater there are at present 57 operatives engaged on construction of which, it is expected, seven will be retained for maintenance following completion. It is unlikely that the Office of Public Works will be in a position to provide continued employment for the remainder of the workforce who as already indicated were recruited on a temporary basis for the duration of this particular scheme. Five operatives have already been transferred to the maintenance of other schemes in the Office of Public Works east region.
