asked the Minister for Finance whether any progress has been made in the preparation of a scheme for the comprehensive drainage of the River Deal in County Limerick; and if he will state when the scheme is likely to be put into operation.

It is hoped to commence this summer an engineering survey of the Deal catchment area, with a view to the formulation of a drainage scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. Pending completion of the survey, the designing of a detailed scheme and compliance with the various requirements of the Act, I am not in a position to give any indication as to when actual drainage operations in the catchment might be commenced.