asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to introduce the proposals mentioned by the Minister for Local Government in the Dáil recently for the execution of drainage works.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage Works.
24.
It is not necessary to introduce new legislation to cover the arrangements for intermediate river drainage. The proposals involve an extension of the drainage programme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, to cover small catchments. The intention is to proceed with the arrangements concurrently with the carrying out of the main drainage programme so that the small catchments can be reached early without interruption of the main programme. Preliminary inspection of a number of catchments has commenced. As the various statutory steps prescribed by the 1945 Act must be followed, it is unlikely that the construction works stage can be reached this year in any area.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary now in a position to receive applications for small drainage works throughout the country?
We are receiving them every day.
I bet you are.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary now assert that full cost grants are available for these works?
He will not.
The intermediate drainage referred to in the Question is only in the test stage, if I may say so, at present and a few possible schemes are being examined with a view to ascertaining whether it will be practicable to proceed on those lines.
I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary appreciates that the works I refer to are the ones which formerly came within the scope of the Local Authorities (Works) Act because it was in dealing with that matter that the Minister for Local Government made the announcement to which I refer in the Question.
The Minister for External Affairs—Question No. 25.
Would you give the Parliamentary Secretary an opportunity of answering?
The Deputy did not ask a question.