asked the Minister for Local Government what progress has been made with the water supply scheme for Donnybrooke, Douglas, County Cork.

The contractor whose tender for the carrying out of this work had been accepted died last August, and his executors have asked the local authority to release them from the obligations of the contract. If this course is agreed on, it will be necessary to readvertise the contract. As the Deputy is aware, the commencement of work on the scheme has been delayed by the fact that the delivery of the pipes had to be awaited. Arrangements have now been made for their delivery direct to the county council. The readvertising of the contract would not, therefore, affect the date of commencing the work.

Can the Minister say when work is likely to commence on this scheme?

No, I cannot definitely state that. I think the Deputy will understand from the nature of the reply that it would not be possible to make a statement of that kind with any degree of accuracy, having regard to the fact that the contractor died and that the question of releasing his executors from the contract has not yet been settled with the local authority.