Vol. 495 No. 2
137 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance when he will publish Phase II of the Feale project report; and if he will make the necessary finance available to commence remedial work in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19700/98]
It is hoped to receive the report on Phase II of the Feale/Cashen survey by the end of November 1998. A copy of the report will, as for Phase I, be placed in the Oireachtas Library for reference by the Members as soon as my office has examined an analysed its recommendations.
As the second phase of the survey progressed it became clear that further high quality survey data would be required. This is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. It is likely to take a further two years before the data compiled during the survey is analysed and the engineering alternatives for ameliorating flooding in the Feale/Cashen estuary area fully explored. In the meantime, my office will continue to carry out annual maintenance works on the Feale/Cashen as obligated under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act.
