asked the Minister for Finance why temporary employment on the Corrib and Clare catchments and the canal at Clonbur, linking the Mask to the Corrib, County Galway, has been cut from the usual 14 to eight weeks this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Temporary employment on the maintenance of the Corrib/Clare drainage scheme is provided each year for as long as is necessary to carry out the work programme for the year in question within the framework of the statutory responsibility of the Commissioners of Public Works to maintain the scheme effectively. The duration of this employment has varied over the years in accordance with the work programme.

The high water levels this year in the Cong canal, which links Loughs Mask and Corrib, has restricted works on the canal under the Corrib-Mask-Robe drainage scheme.

In former years the temporary employees were usually kept on for eight to ten weeks. Are they not being kept on this year due to a shortage of cash?

In the current year the average number of weeks was eight. In 1978 it was eight and in 1980 it was nine weeks.