asked the Minister for Finance if he will now state the proposed date for the start of the drainage of the Boyne.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Boyne Drainage.
36.
We are in the final stages of fulfilling the statutory requirements for confirmation of the scheme and actual work will be started in a few weeks.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that at least four times last year we got dates which were earlier than the present date for the start of this scheme? We seem to be delaying a long time.
The Deputy never got dates.
Oh, yes, we got February from the Parliamentary Secretary.
As a result of the statutory provisions for the receipt of observations on this scheme, a great many observations were received and the scheme had to be revised to some extent in accordance with the law. This stage has now been completed.
The Parliamentary Secretary must be aware that he did, in fact, give the date of February of this year for the start of the work.
I do not think I gave any definite date at any stage.
It is becoming commonplace for Members of the Government not to be sure of facts.
The Deputy knows perfectly well the scheme would have been started a long time ago were it not for objections by local people, who were entitled to object.
They were not local people.
The Deputy knows the people I mean.
They were members of TACA.
Some of them were.