asked the Minister for Finance what is the cause of the delay in sanctioning the commencement of work on the five-year programme of minor marine works as announced on behalf of the Government over a year ago.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marine Works Programme.
23.
Some of the work has already commenced and it is hoped to start work on other schemes this year. It was found necessary to re-assess the programme by reference to the available financial and staff resources. Details of the works being sanctioned will be announced later.
On the matter of the availability of finance, is it that the amount that was set aside for this in the Budget is inadequate or is that the amount that was set aside in the Budget will not be available?
It is certainly not the latter. In other words, the money will be available.
May I ask then what is the difficulty in so far as staff is concerned as I understand from the Office of Public Works that they have been ready to go ahead for quite a while and that this work has not been forthcoming and that it is sanction to commence the work that has really held them up?
No, the actual sanction for the go-ahead on the detailed work was held up for quite some time last year. Sanction has been given in fact recently for the go-ahead on this but certain assessments had to be made by reference to the financial and staff resources and an announcement of the works being sanctioned will be made later on.
Question No. 24.
What is the——
We cannot discuss this question all evening.
Is there time for an adjournment debate this evening, a Cheann Comhairle?
That is a separate question.
I will, with your permission, raise the matter on the adjournment tonight.
Question No. 24.
I should like—I am risking being ruled out of order—to raise on the adjournment the subject matter of the question I wished to raise on the adjournment yesterday regarding drug abuses in Dublin.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputies.
It is not the position that we have been having an adjournment debate for the last two days and we cannot have an adjournment debate on an adjournment debate? That is clear.
That is quite clear.
We had it.
We had it yesterday.
We should not have it.
I did not get the answer in the last two days.