asked the Minister for Finance when work will commence on the comprehensive drainage scheme for the Lough Corrib catchment area.

The survey of the Corrib catchment area, which is at present in hands, will take a considerable time, and the subsequent designing of a comprehensive drainage scheme for the area will require prolonged consideration to solve the many complex problems which the drainage of the river presents, particularly in the outfall channel. The formal drainage scheme must then be prepared, exhibited and confirmed in accordance with the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, before works can begin. In the circumstances, it is not possible to say when the actual drainage operations in this catchment can commence.