asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to undertake the drainage of the Suck River, County Roscommon.

I regret that I am unable at this stage to say when the drainage of the Suck will be undertaken.

Does that mean that nobody knows when the Suck will be done and that with regard to the Lung and Bredogue, not a spade will be put in the ground for at least five years?

That is not correct.

Did the Parliamentary Secretary not say that the planning would take at least two years, that the survey would take two years and that it would take some time after that to get started. Two and two make four in any language and sometime "after" means at least a year where the Board of Works is concerned. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands has had some publicity stunt in the Roscommon Herald with regard to this.

We hope to get started much earlier than that. I would say that if we can get the engineers, we will be able to start earlier than that.

You hope to do something in four years?

Yes.

Why did you not do something when you were in power?

We did a great deal and you stopped it when you came in. That is a scandalous remark.