Noel Davern
Question:136 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Finance when the urgently needed drainage of the River Suir will take place; the estimated cost of such drainage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1074/96]
Vol. 460 No. 3
136 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Finance when the urgently needed drainage of the River Suir will take place; the estimated cost of such drainage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1074/96]
The Suir is included in the priority list of major rivers being considered for treatment under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. This Act envisaged the execution of drainage works on the basis of comprehensive schemes for entire catchment areas. The Suir catchment was, in fact, surveyed some years ago in the context of a scheme under the 1945 Act and considerable progress was made on the design of a scheme. However, much remains to be done and it would not be possible to say when this process might be completed particularly in the light of the demand on the limited resources available.
Nor, in the absence of a completed design, would it be possible to put a reliable estimate on the cost of a scheme, though indications are that it could approach £100 million. The catchment is 1375 square miles (880,000 acres) in extent and contains a total of 1,150 miles approximately of main and tributary channels with associated structures such as weirs, bridges and embankments.