asked the Minister for Finance the up-to-date position regarding the drainage of (1) the Graney or Scariff river, (2) the Quin river to Ballykilty and (3) the Fergus river, County Clare.

These rivers are included in the priority lists on which the national arterial drainage programme is based. The Quin catchment was examined some years ago but a scheme was not proceeded with on economic grounds. It is not possible to say at this stage when the Graney (Scarriff) or Fergus catchments might be reached in the drainage programme.