asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has for the Connacht-Ulster arterial drainage schemes 1984; if he will guarantee that employment on current drainage schemes and maintenance work will be kept at the 1983 level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Connacht-Ulster Arterial Drainage Schemes.
332.
Work will continue in 1984 on the three drainage schemes currently in progress in the Connacht region, that is, Corrib-Mask-Robe, Boyle and Bonet. It is expected that a scheme for the Ulster (Monaghan) Blackwater catchment to be undertaken in co-operation with the Northern Ireland Authorities will commence later this year. Initially, works will be confined to that part of the catchment wholly within Northern Ireland, in order to provide the outfall require for the proposed drainage works on this side of the Border.
Because of the need to restrict expenditure in the public sector and to ensure that the financial allocation for arterial drainage in 1984 is not exceeded and having regard to the advanced stage of the Corrib-Mask-Robe scheme, some 55 redundancies on this scheme cannot be averted; it is expected that seven additional posts will be created on the Boyle and Bonet schemes. It is envisaged that the 1984 employment level on maintenance works in the Connacht-Ulster region will not fall below the 1983 level.