asked the Minister for Finance if there is available any up-to-date report concerning the progress of arterial drainage, and if he will inform the Dáil as to the possibilities of increasing the rate of development.
- Arterial Drainage.
I gave a general review of the progress of arterial drainage in the Estimates debate on Votes 8 and 9 in July last.
At the moment, two major schemes, the Brosna and the Glyde and Dee, costing about a million pounds each and employing between them over 600 men, are in progress. We expect to commence work early next year on a third major scheme (the Feale, County Kerry) and works on the tidal sluice at Clarecastle for the River Fergus are also in hands. Meanwhile, survey and design work is proceeding in other catchment areas. We have acquired very considerable mechanical plant of various kinds; substantial additions to this plant are on order and further large purchases are contemplated. A large new repair workshop for the servicing of the machines has recently been secured.
The rate of development of the arterial drainage programme depends largely on the availability of experienced technical staff. The staff has already been augmented by the recent recruitment of a number of junior engineers, and Civil Service competitions are being held for further senior and junior posts. If the response is favourable, an early speeding-up of the drainage programme will still further result.
In addition to the surveys and works in hand under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, arrangements are being made with the Minister for Agriculture for surveys on a number of main rivers and for certain special works with the object of facilitating the land rehabilitation project and of expediting the arterial drainage survey programme.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state what are the other catchment areas to which he refers, areas in which, he says, it is hoped that surveys are proceeding? Can he also inform the House what is the number of engineers recruited or proposed to be recruited in this year and what is the number proposed to be recruited solely for arterial drainage?
Surveys have been completed on the Akeragh LoughBanna and the Lee (County Kerry) and surveys of the Corrib and Nenagh River catchment are in progress and it is expected that we may be in a position in 1951 to start that catchment. The Deputy will realise that last summer was a very bad summer for surveys and the work may go into 1952 but it will be done in 1952.
With regard to engineers, 16 temporary junior engineers have been recruited in the present financial year and Civil Service competitions have been advertised for seven senior and 24 junior posts all of which will be permanent. The 16 temporary junior posts will be absorbed in the new posts. Sanction has been obtained for the recruitment of seven temporary senior and 25 temporary junior engineers for the land rehabilitation part of the programme and measures to implement this sanction are in progress. The total number to be recruited is 63.
I notice that the Parliamentary Secretary did not say anything about the Maine in Kerry.
There is nothing about the Maine here.
A survey of it is in hands.
You cannot raise the subject of every river in the country on this question. I would ask Deputies to remember that there are 109 questions on the Order Paper and that the Deputies whose questions are at the end have as much right to be answered as those whose questions are at the beginning.
Is it the engineers of the Parliamentary Secretary's office who will carry out the survey on behalf of the Department of Agriculture?
Engineers for the land rehabilitation project are being recruited by my office.
The survey, therefore, will be carried out on behalf of the Department of Agriculture by your staff?
On the instructions of the Department of Agriculture.