asked the Minister for Finance the present position concerning Dunkellin drainage scheme, County Galway.

43.

asked the Minister for Finance if the cost benefit survey of Dunkellin River, County Galway has commenced; if so, when he expects to receive the report; and when work is likely to commence.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.

A cost/benefit study of the drainage of the Dunkellin catchment area is necessary to establish whether the scheme would be an economic one. A number of other catchment areas have priority in this respect, however, and the expert staff available for such studies is limited. At this stage I cannot indicate when such a study can be put in hands.

The Parliamentary Secretary stated that a number of others have priority. Can he say how many and can he give an approximate date when this study will be carried out? Is he aware that a cost/ benefit survey was carried out by the farmers in the area around the river about ten or 15 years ago and is with his Office? Can he state on what date this cost/benefit survey will be started?

There would be no need for a cost/benefit survey but for the fact that this cost/benefit survey was initiated in 1969. Before that there was no necessity for a study analysis. Since then and henceforth there must be a cost/benefit analysis to see if every catchment is an economic one and to see if the cost justifies the work. I am not aware that the farmers did a cost/benefit survey themselves. I am aware that an engineering report and an estimate of cost was made in 1971 but this catchment area is being revised again in the light of increased costs.

When is there likely to be a report on whether this river will be drained?

I could not give the Deputy an idea when it will be drained but it will be drained eventually.

Before the Shannon.

If I were like my predecessors I could give a date but it would be a provisional date only, and I might be promising things which I might never fulfil.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary state whether we are No. 9 on the list? I was under the impression that there were only two other schemes to be done before Dunkellin and now the Parliamentary Secretary says there are a number.

The Dunkellin catchment is No. 10 on the priority list of minor catchments.

What one are you at now?

Of the ten, about four have been done or have been cancelled out because of economic factors. I have not got the exact schemes that will be done before Dunkellin. I think about four have been done but do not take that as being certain.

Could I put down a question for next week?

Do that, or I will communicate with the two Deputies.