asked the Minister for Finance if his Department intend to provide money to carry out drainage work on many schemes which are too costly under local improvement schemes; in view of the fact that at least 16 farmers in Milltown, Drumcliffe, County Sligo, are continually suffering severe losses due to the neglected condition of the Milltown river.

Since in the preparation of arterial drainage programmes, the total amount of work to be taken into consideration is so very great, the Commissioners of Public Works have had to confine their drainage activities to the more important catchments and at this stage they have no proposals under consideration for smaller schemes such as those referred to by the Deputy.

(Cavan): On a point of order, clearly Deputy McLaughlin and I did not hear and could not possibly hear the beginning of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply and he knew that when he was giving the reply.

Why did the Deputy not hear?

(Cavan): Because there was noise going on. Would the Parliamentary Secretary please repeat the reply?

It is a matter for the Chair.

All right. Would the Parliamentary Secretary repeat the reply?

Following is the reply: Since in the preparation of arterial drainage programmes, the total amount of work to be taken into consideration is so very great, the Commissioners of Public Works have had to confine their drainage activities to the more important catchments and at this stage they have no proposals under consideration for smaller schemes such as those referred to by the Deputy.

The Parliamentary Secretary was very anxious to give this reply. May I ask why there should be this discrimination in the case of these 16 farmers in Milltown, Drumcliffe, County Sligo? Has the Parliamentary Secretary any reasonable case for depriving these 16 farmers of this drainage plan?

The Deputy should be aware that under the arterial drainage programme, 1945, a certain scheme of priorities was drawn up and that the matter of arterial drainage is being dealt with in a very orderly way.

What date was this?

The Arterial Drainage Act, 1945.

The Deputy was talking about wasting the time of the House. He is making a mockery of the House.

What date?

If the Deputy does not know the date of the main Arterial Drainage Act, it is time he started to get educated. I am not going to waste the time of the House.

I asked a supplementary question on that important question.

Question No. 37.

A Cheann Comhairle, I asked one supplementary. The Parliamentary Secretary did not reply. I demand a reply. The Parliamentary Secretary was eager to answer the question. He refused to answer the supplementary.

I refuse because the Deputy is making a mockery of the House.

We will send the right reply to the 16 farmers in Milltown.