asked the Minister for Finance if the levy placed on the Kerry County Council for the maintenance of the Feale and Maine drainage schemes could be made a national charge, in view of the fact that Kerry has one of the highest rates in the country.

The Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, provides that the maintenance costs of completed drainage works should be borne by the county councils concerned. I am not empowered to relieve the Kerry County Council of the liability imposed on them by the Act.