asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works will concentrate its future drainage efforts on the main river channels in conjunction with an expansion of the land project.

The drainage schemes carried out by the Commissioners of Public Works under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, cater for the main river channels of a catchment in so far as the work is economic and practicable and these schemes are formulated in close liaison with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

23.

asked the Minister for Finance if a scheme for draining the River Shannon or any of its tributaries, utilising its major lakes, will be introduced in the foreseeable future.

It has been found possible to carry out a number of arterial drainage schemes on large tributaries in the Shannon basin and others are being or will be considered. However, the drainage of the Shannon itself and certain back-watered tributaries would be a big project and immensely costly. Having regard to other very important demands on capital resources, I cannot say at this point in time when it will materialise.

Am I to take it from that reply that we can forget about the Shannon and its tributaries?

As long as I will be here, I would say it will not be for years to come.

I wanted to ask this question about the Shannon.

I can furnish details to the Deputy and anybody else who is interested.

What happened the £20 million Fianna Fáil had in the 1960s to drain the Shannon?

We threw the rocks from Connemara into the sea.

24.

asked the Minister for Finance the present position on the priority list of the following catchment areas of County Monaghan and when is it likely that they will be reached for arterial drainage: (a) Dromore River, (b) Finn River, (c) Fane River and (d) Blackwater River.

The Dromore and Finn rivers are part of the Erne catchment which is No. 10 on the priority list of major catchments—areas over 100,000 acres, in the arterial drainage programme of the Commissioners of Public Works. The Blackwater is No. 19 on the same list. The Fane is No. 20 on the priority list of minor catchments—areas of 25,000-100,000 acres. Having regard to inherent difficulties in these catchments as well as other urgent commitments and limited funds, it is not possible to say when these catchments may be drained.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the Office of Public Works as at present constituted are the best body suited to carry out those works?

The Deputy has a written question in about that and he will get the reply.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in another part of the country a drainage board has been set up to concentrate on minor water works and they seem to be doing very effective——

The Deputy is raising another matter. This question deals with priorities for the drainage of these rivers.

The Deputy raised this matter previously and asked if it was taken up with the EEC. It was, but the EEC have not yet decided whether arterial drainage will qualify for grants. If it does, we will all be in business.