asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the increased grant from the EEC, he has considered a grant for the drainage of Dunkellin River, County Galway.
30.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway River.
29.
asked the Minister for Finance if he has any plans to allocate money for the drainage of the Dunkellin river, County Galway.
31.
asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to include the Dunkellin river, County Galway, in the proposed drainage scheme for the West of Ireland.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 30 and 31 together.
A scheme for the Dunkellin catchment is under preparation and would, in due course, be considered for EEC aid if such were then available.
I am not in a position to state when the preparation of the drainage scheme will be completed.
Might I ask the Minister what number it is on the priority list at present?
No. 10.
Is that under minor or major schemes?
It is on the priority major catchment scheme.
How many a year are being done?
May I ask the Minister if there is any prospect of it being done under the new allocation of funds from the EEC?
The Deputy is joking at me all the time here, but he might remember that these surveys were completed in 1969. Therefore the remainder of the work is now being continued.
What has to be done after the surveys?
There is a scheme to be prepared, then a cost/benefit analysis must be prepared; then the local authority and all interested people must be informed. Therefore, I could not say at this stage.
It is time we were getting on to another stage.
My question is slightly different. Will it be considered in the expenditure of the money allocated by the EEC? I know it is No. 10 on the list and I know also that if it has to be done out of our own resources it will take a long time——
We are awaiting a question.
I understand that out of the money being allocated by the EEC there are other rivers to be done. I want to know who selected them, how they were selected and why was the Dunkellin not selected as one to be done under the allocation of EEC moneys. I am not talking about the ordinary run-of-the-mill money at all, but the new money being allocated.
It will be considered under EEC aid if such is available.
I understand there are certain rivers in the northern part of County Galway and Mayo chosen. What was the criterion used to choose them? Why was the Dunkellin not chosen?
(Interruptions.)
Anyway the public press has published it.
Question No. 32.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy must not be reading the papers.
Can the Minister tell us, with regard to the allocation of these EEC moneys, if a certain number of draining schemes or projects was laid down?
Might I ask the Minister how the river catchments which are understood to have been selected for the benefit of this EEC money were in fact selected? Who nominated them?
The western parts of Ireland.
There is no question on the Order Paper about the selection of rivers. I am not allowing questions to be asked. Question No. 32.
I did not hear the Minister's reply to Deputy Kelly's supplementary.
That is not my fault.
I said the western parts of Ireland.
Who made the decision?
Question No. 32.
First of all——
There are four catchments mentioned. I would like to know from the Minister——
The Deputy could put down a question asking for that specific information. There is no question on the Order Paper in relation to what the Deputy is asking. I have called Question No. 32.
(Interruptions.)
Will Deputy Callanan please resume his seat?
All right, but I asked only one supplementary——
The Deputy asked four.
And was allowed one.
Question No. 32 please.