asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that much flooding occurs annually in the Rosslough area as a result of the Rosslough river overflowing its banks: and if he will ask for a survey of the area so that the source of the flooding can be determined.

A survey of the Rosslough River would be undertaken by the Commissioners of Public Works in connection only with the preparation of a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, for the entire River Fane catchment area. It is not possible to say when that catchment can be reached in the arterial drainage programme.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in Ardee, a few miles from Rosslough, there is machinery which carried out the drainage of the Glyde and Dee? It would be a very simple matter to transfer that machinery over to Rosslough instead of shifting it away down the country to some other scheme. Also, is he aware that the trouble seems to lie in a bottleneck at a place called Ballykelly? Will he ask his officers in the Department to investigate that aspect of the matter?

I am sure it would not give any great trouble to transfer the machinery over the short distance, but the very great trouble lies in preparing the scheme, which takes a very long time. Anyhow, I can tell the Deputy that that scheme is not high up on the priority list made out by the Commissioners of Public Works.

There are valuable acres of land going to loss up there.