andMr. Donnellan asked the Minister for Finance (a) the amount of money which would have been spent, and the river catchments which would have been drained under the arterial drainage programme, if that programme had proceeded in accordance with its existing priority list with resources in each of the next five years equivalent in real terms to the resources in 1978; (b) the amount of money which will now be spent; and (c) the river catchments which will be drained in the next five years, in view of the EEC aid to drainage in the west of Ireland.

: The major drainage schemes at present in progress on the Boyne and Maigue will take an-other five years to complete. The amount required to finance those schemes over that period is estimated at £18 million at present prices. Funds amounting to about £5.5 million have been approved by the Council of Ministers of the EEC for extra arterial drainage work in the western region over the next five years on the basis that the amount will be matched £ for £ by us and subject to an agreed programme of work. A programme put forward by us is under consideration by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Structures of the EEC.

: Could the Minister say how much money the State has put up this year towards the EEC funds for drainage purposes?

: There is no point in stating that.

: Will a cost-benefit analysis survey have to be carried out in respect of areas to be drained? If that is the case, will it not delay the implementation of works and use up much of the European money on administration and inspection and engineering costs?

: I cannot anticipate the decision that will be made on this matter in Brussels. I cannot comment at this stage.

28.

andMr. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will increase the survey and other staff in the Office of Public Works to enable the arterial drainage programme to be accelerated; if an assessment has yet been made of the additional staff needs resulting from the new EEC aid for arterial drainage; and, if so, if he will give details of his plans in the matter.

: I agree that a strengthening of the staff of the engineering branch of the Office of Public Works is necessary to cope with the work under the arterial drainage programme and to enable the EEC proposals for a contribution towards an accelerated programme of drainage in the west of Ireland to be availed of. At present an assessment of the additional staff required for drainage and other engineering works is being made in consultation with the Department of the Public Service. I am not yet in a position to give details in the matter but I hope that a decision will soon be reached.

: Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that an assessment has not yet been made in the Board of Works as to whether additional people are required?

: Yes, we have made an assessment.

: What is the position?

: Recently we advertised for ten additional engineers and we are negotiating with the Department of the Public Service for a further recruitment of engineers. I agree that over the years the Office of Public Works was allowed to run down. This was due to many factors. One was the fact that the previous Government prevented any further recruitment of extra staff for engineering works.

: Is everything about to take off now?

: I said that I have already advertised for ten engineers and a further recruitment is now anticipated.

: Will those ten people be able to make up all the leeway apparently lost during the past four years?

: I am hoping to cope with the backlog of work.

: When did the Minister ask the Department of the Public Service to sanction these appointments?

: We are making representations to the Department of the Public Service.

: The Minister has not yet made them.

: As I said, we have already advertised for an additional number on top of the ten.

: On top of the ten.

: Deputies know very well that there was an embargo on additional staff. Those who resigned or who went out on pension were not replaced. Now there is a backlog of work and I am trying to cope with that by recruiting additional staff.

: Regarding the assessment, is the Minister of State in a position to tell the House when this will be finalised and when we may expect some positive action?

: A decision will be made very shortly. There will not be any unnecessary delay.

: Will that be in six months' time?

: There will not be any unnecessary delay.