asked the Minister for Finance the exact position of the River Suir on the priority drainage list; and if he will supply a copy of the report of the survey of the catchment area which was carried out in connection with this project to the local authority committee who are examining it.

12.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will receive a deputation from the committee examining the feasability of having the Suir drainage scheme reactivated.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.

The Suir is No. 15 on the priority list of major catchments. Although the catchment has been surveyed a report thereon is not yet available. However, requests for specific information on the survey will be considered by my office.

I am prepared to consider any request that I receive a deputation to discuss the drainage of the River Suir. I would point out, however, that there is little I could tell a meeting other than that a scheme for the catchment is in course of preparation but that it will be several years yet before it could reach works stage.

Will the Minister make available the salient features of the survey report to which I referred?

I am prepared to make available to the Deputy at any time any information he would consider would be of benefit to him.

I am grateful to the Minister. Is the Minister aware of the damage done and the heavy financial losses sustained by farmers and householders in the area due to the annual flooding of the River Suir? Is he further aware of the feelings of disappointment and exasperation on the part of all of us at the many years of waiting for the implementation of the scheme? Can he give me no better assurance on when this important project will commence and when the necessary moneys will be made available for it?

Quite a lot of information has been compiled on this. It must go through the normal procedures of costing, the benefit to the area, matters of that kind, as the Deputy is aware. Quite a lot of work has been done but I cannot say at this stage how soon we can start the scheme.

Can the Minister say when the report will be available?

At this stage I cannot.

Will it not be soon? Can we not assume that it will be very soon by reason of the long years of work on the survey?

I can inform the Deputy—and everybody interested in drainage schemes—that there will be no unnecessary delay in finalising any one of them.

Yet the Minister can give no indication that the report will be available next year, the year after or whenever?

No, at this stage I cannot give that information but there will be no unnecessary delay in finalising the scheme.

I look forward to as much of a report as possible at the Minister's pleasure.