asked the Minister for Finance if there are any proposals for the drainage of the rivers (i) Shannon (ii) Lung (iii) Suck and if so, if he will indicate the details of the proposals in each case.

A proposal for the drainage of the Shannon and some of its tributaries, including the Suck, is at present under consideration. A considerable amount of further investigation and design work would require to be done before it could be decided that a satisfactory drainage scheme would be feasible.

The Lung River forms part of the Boyle catchment and a scheme for the drainage of that catchment has been prepared. The necessary steps are being taken to comply with the requirements of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 as regards public exhibition, and confirmation by the Minister for Finance. All going well, it is hoped that works under the scheme would commence in about a year.