Vol. 525 No. 3
192 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Finance if he will make funding available to satisfactorily complete the work on the Owenmore River, County Sligo, in view of the fact that drainage work, starting on the middle section of the river, has accelerated flooding downstream; if so, the amount of funding to be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25127/00]
In 1996 a sum of £215,000 was provided by Sligo County Council for work to be carried out on the Owenmore/Arrow Rivers. No works were carried out on the Arrow River due to environmental constraints. Works on the Owenmore River ceased in the Ballinacarrow area when there were concerns from a fish farm of possible danger to salmon stocks. My officials have recently been in contact with Sligo County Council, who now consider that the unexpended balance of £8,551 from the funds could be used in order to complete the maintenance works originally proposed in the Ballinacarrow area. The Commissioners of Public Works have indicated to the council that they have no objection to the outstanding funding being used for this purpose. There are no proposals to allocate any additional funds.
