asked the Minister for Finance the plans his Department have in relation to the drainage of the Dunkellin River in County Galway.

12.

asked the Minister for Finance the present position in relation to the drainage of the Dunkellin river, County Galway.

13.

asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to continue with the cost-benefit survey on the Dunkellin River, County Galway, which was started by his predecessor.

I propose taking Questions Nos. 11, 12 and 13 together. The preparation of a design for the drainage of the Dunkellin catchment is proceeding and has in fact been expedited since my arrival in the Office of Public Works. The cost-benefit studies were not commenced during the term of office of my predecessor but I am arranging to have them carried out immediately to appropriate stage is reached in the design work and I hope that this will occur in 1982. In the meantime preliminary work in this context is in hands.

With regard to the Minister's statement about when the work started I should like to tell him that the engineers visited the area before the last Government left office. However, I am pleased to know that work is still going ahead. I should like to know when the survey work will be completed so that work can commence on the drainage of that river which is an eyesore? I have been expressing my concern about that river since I was first elected to this House and I am sure it was mentioned on many occasions by many representatives from this constituency.

I realise the importance of the Dunkellin river to the Deputy's area. It is on the priority list of minor catchments to be considered. The design work is going ahead but there are problems in the sense that the Department of Fisheries and Forestry have to be consulted about the matter. There is an oyster bed at Clarenbridge and a wild life habitat at Rahasane Turlough and they will have a bearing on the cost-benefit analysis. When those studies are completed we will be able to finish the design but we will have to consider the effect on the wild life habitat and the oyster beds of the drainage of the river. It is not a simple matter.

Is the Minister aware that a predecessor of his indicated that work would start on this scheme as far back as 1972? Is the Minister of State aware that his predecessor, who is present in the House, visited the catchment area prior to the last election and made a promise that he would instruct the Department to do something about it?

I am not aware of what promises were made but I am aware that a visit was made to the area in the company of an engineer. What I am saying is this: it was implied in one question here that the cost/benefit survey was going on. That was not the case. I am saying that the cost/benefit studies were not commenced during the term of office of my predecessor. The preparation of a design is now being undertaken. I indicate that there are problems there, creating special difficulties. I am not saying that they will not allow us to drain that river. I am saying that there is a wildlife habitat and an oyster bed close to it and we must consider the effects of the drainage on those and of those on the drainage. I have commenced consulation with the Department of Fisheries in regard to the oyster beds. That is all I am saying. I am not concerned with promises or anything of that sort.

I asked the Minister of State the present position. I was hoping he would tell us about the cost/benefit survey on which the previous Minister made a decision and issued an order for work to go ahead. I cannot understand why the cost/benefit survey could not go ahead. Is it a problem of finance, personnel, or what is the reason the Minister of State is giving for delaying this cost/benefit survery into 1982?

The Deputy will understand that the cost/benefit survey cannot be properly undertaken until we reach a certain advanced stage of design. We must consult with people like Fisheries and with several others who will want to know exactly — before they can decide on their involvement — what we are going to do with the river. Therefore the design must be at an advanced stage before we can progress to the cost/benefit. I am in a position to say that I hope — I stress the word "hope" because I will not be accused of making promises that are not fulfilled — the cost/benefit survey will be undertaken in 1982.

I have given a considerable amount of time to this question. A last supplementary from Deputy McEllistrim.

No, there are three questions on this matter. I have asked only one supplementary.

At one time I met a deputation of farmers whose land adjoined the Dunkellin river. At that time the design plan was almost complete. That was May last. When I returned to the Department I made an order for a cost analysis to be started before Christmas; as far as I can remember October was the month mentioned. The Minister of State should admit that the order was left in the Department, that the cost/benefit analysis would be started before Christmas——

Would the Deputy kindly ask a question?

Is there an order in the Department and why was the cost/benefit analysis not started when the guarantee had been given?

I should like to remind the Deputy that the cost/benefit analysis was not started during his term of office——

I did not say it was——

——and it is not possible to start it until a certain advanced stage is reached in the design.

That was finished in May last.

Excuse me, that advanced stage has not yet been reached.

A cover up.

No, it is not a cover up at all. The facts are here and they are stubborn things. I am now three or four months in this office but they have been there for a long time. Since I assumed office I can honestly say I have expedited the design of this scheme.

The Minister indicated earlier that the oyster bed would have an effect on the cost/benefit analysis. Could he tell the house how the oyster bed would have such an effect?

It would have an effect in that the Department of Fisheries have been consulted. I have commenced consultation with them. There was no consultation with them until I took up the matter. They have an input in this respect as to what effect the drainage will have on the oyster bed, as they have also with regard to the effects it may have on the wildlife habitat in that area. These are things that would have to be seriously considered by any government in the design of a drainage scheme. Of course they will have an effect because the people concerned will be worried about the effect the drainage of this river will have on the oyster bed.

Question No. 14.

On a point of order, I have sat here throughout Question Time. There are three question down in regard to this and I have Question No. 13. I only wanted to ask a supplementary on it.

The Deputy was given the first supplementary question which elicited the information given. The deputy will appreciate that we have now given 16 minutes to these three questions.

I will obey your ruling, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and sit down when I have finished. But it is most unfair that I should not be allowed ask the Minister a final supplementary on these three questions of vital importance to the west on a matter which has been a thorn in people's sides for years.

The Chair has called Question No. 14.

I protest; it is unfair.

14.