asked the Minister for Finance whether it is proposed to go ahead with the drainage of the Newport-Annagh river, Counties Tipperary and Limerick; and whether he is aware that an extensive acreage of land is subject to flooding as a result of the present condition of the river, and, if so, if he will have the matter expedited.

The Annagh and Newport rivers are in the Mulkear catchment area. The question of carrying out a comprehensive drainage scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, for that catchment will be considered in due course, but it is not possible, at this stage, to say when the catchment can be reached in the arterial drainage programme.