asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, to carry out drainage work on the river known as the Little Brosna; the extent of the work already carried out on this river by the Parsonstown Drainage Committee and the Shinrone Drainage Committee between Riverstown, Birr and Mount Heaton, Roscrea, County Offaly; and if he will make a full detailed statement in regard to this work.

The Little Brosna is included in the priority lists of catchments to be considered for treatment under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, but as its drainage is bound up with the Shannon flood problem I cannot say when it will be undertaken.

Annual maintenance works comprising cleaning, weed removal, et cetera are undertaken by Offaly and Tipperary (North Riding) County Councils on that stretch of the Little Brosna between Riverstown, Birr and Mount Heaton, excluding a half mile gap, as part of the Parsonstown and Shinrone Drainage Districts.