asked the Minister for Finance if he will sanction proposals for an immediate drainage programme of the Mulcair catchment area in Limerick-north Tipperary.
166.
Written Answers. - Arterial Drainage.
165.
asked the Minister for Finance the up-to-date position regarding the drainage of the Mulcair river which runs through County Limerick and County Tipperary.
167.
asked the Minister for Finance the reasons the recent national plan 1985-87 does not deal with arterial drainage; the Government's intentions in this regard; and, in particular, the steps which are proposed in connection with the drainage of the Mulcair river.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 166 and 167 together.
As Deputies are aware, the Government decided, in October 1982, that a review of arterial drainage policy should be carried out so as to ensure that satisfactory returns from investments in this area would be achieved. Pending the outcome of the review and the Government's decision on future policy, arterial drainage could not be dealt with separately, by way of the national plan.
Work on the design of a drainage scheme for the Mulcair catchment has been suspended since February 1983, following a Government decision to halt all arterial drainage planning pending completion of the review. The review, prepared by the Commissioners of Public Works, is being considered by the Department of Finance prior to submission of proposals to the Government. Pending the Government's decision, I am not in a position to say when a scheme for the Mulcair catchment might be sanctioned.