asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will undertake the drainage of the upper reaches of the Lung River in the Tooreen-Urlaur area, near Ballyhaunis, County Mayo.

The Lung River will be dealt with in the comprehensive scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 for the Boyle catchment area in which it lies.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider an application that is already lodged under rural improvement schemes for the upper reaches of it, which is really a minor drainage problem?

What about the lower reaches?

They have already been done by our Government under the Local Authorities (Works) Act which you stopped.

Arising from the Rydell Report, a joint committee was set up consisting of representatives of my Office and the Electricity Supply Board and the agreed report dated 6th June, 1961, on the first stage of the investigations of the Shannon flood problem concludes that the proposed diversion would not be economic. The agreed report further recommends that works on tributaries of the Shannon should not be done independently but should be accompanied by works on the main stem of the Shannon. In other words, this joint body, the Commissioners of Public Works and the E.S.B., came to the conclusion that the problem would be aggravated if the tributaries were dealt with.

I think the Parliamentary Secretary has not grasped my point. An application was made by about 200 farmers for a rural improvement scheme for minor drainage, as happens in many areas, for the three upper portions that join. It is really only a minor drainage problem but it is a very serious one for a big number of farmers there. Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary would look into it and get the Special Employment Schemes Office to accept the rural improvement scheme that has been sent in whereunder the tenants are willing to contribute a portion of the cost.

I shall do that, but I do not think it will solve the Deputy's problem.

66.

asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will now carry out the drainage of the "Turlough" at Cuillan, near Irishtown, County Mayo.

The question of the drainage of the "Turlough" at Cuillaun, near Irishtown, County Mayo, will be considered in connection with a comprehensive drainage scheme for the Corrib-Mask catchment area of which the engineering survey has recently been commenced.