asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of applications received by his Department from County Councils in the Saorstát for grants under the Drainage Acts of 1924, 1925 and 1928; the number of applications from each county that were sanctioned; the cost of each work or scheme sanctioned; and the percentage of such cost paid, or sanctioned to be paid, by his Department in each case.

In view of the length of the reply required I will not read it, but will hand the Deputy a copy of the statement asked for, which sets forth (1) the restoration works carried out under the Drainage Maintenance Act, 1924, and (2) the schemes confirmed by the Minister for Finance under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, giving particulars of the grants made by the Minister in each case.

I may add that it is not necessary for county councils to make application for grants under the Drainage Maintenance Act, 1924, or the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, and no county council has yet made application for a grant under the Arterial Drainage (Minor Schemes) Act, 1928.

The following is the statement:

LIST OF SCHEMES CONFIRMED BY MINISTER FOR FINANCE UNDER ARTERIAL DRAINAGE ACT, 1925:—

ARTERIAL DRAINAGE.

DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE ACT, 1924.

Between the passing of the Act and the 31st March, 1930, Works of Restoration were completed in the following Districts:—

Does that mean that the Arterial Drainage (Minor Schemes) Act has not been in operation up to the present?

Under that Act it is not necessary to make application for a loan until three months after the scheme is carried out. It is possible that none of the schemes have been completed yet.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary repeat his answer to the latter part of the question as to what percentage of Government grant was given to the various schemes carried out under the 1924 and 1925 Acts?

That is part of the reply which I am handing to the Deputy. It is a long detailed reply.