asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to drain the Bundrowes River in Counties Leitrim and Donegal; and, if so, when the work will be carried out.

The Bundrowes catchment is noted for consideration under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, but it is not possible to say when it will be reached.

By the drainage of approximately 300 yards of the estuary of the Bundrowes River at least 1,000 acres of arable land could be reclaimed. Has the Parliamentary Secretary received the plan for such a scheme which I sent to his Department?

I have.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider the plan?

I received a report on that plan this morning and, while my officials say they cannot criticise it, they have no information on the drainage conditions of the Bundrowes catchment as it has never been surveyed with a view to preparing a comprehensive scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary look into it?

The difficulty is that we shall probably have to do a comprehensive scheme and not just this small area.

A comprehensive scheme will take some years; this could be done in a few months.

49.

asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to drain the river Bonnett at Dromahaire, County Sligo.

An engineering survey has been made of this catchment and the possibility of producing an economic scheme is being examined.

50.

asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the grave concern of the small farmers in South Galway over the flooding of their lands owing to the failure of the Office of Public Works to start the Dunkellin catchment drainage scheme; and if he will now indicate a definite date by which it is hoped to commence this scheme and help to alleviate the flooding of many thousands of acres of farmland.

As I said in reply to a question on the 12th February, 1970, the investigation of the Dunkellin scheme is proceeding. I regret that at this stage I cannot be more definite.