asked the Minister for Finance if he will state when he hopes to issue instructions for the commencement of drainage work on the River Douglas, County Leix, or why money voted by the Dáil for this scheme during the present financial year is being returned to the Exchequer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Douglas Drainage Work.
It is not proposed to proceed with the Douglas drainage scheme until the Barrow scheme has been completed and its accounts finally settled, consequently it cannot be definitely stated when drainage operations will start on the first-mentioned scheme, but it will not be for at least six months.
As the money voted in this case was not spent within the financial year, it is being surrendered in accordance with customary procedure. The Deputy will observe from the Estimates, 1936-37, that a sum of £2,500 has been provided in respect of the Douglas scheme for the coming year.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary hold out any hope that the money provided for the coming year will be spent on the Douglas scheme inside the year?
So long as I will not be accused of disappointing the Deputy.