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.