asked the Minister for Finance if financial provision is being made in 1982 to provide for a drainage scheme on the River Flesk, County Kerry in view of the amount of damage being caused to houses and lands by frequent flooding.

The Commissioners of Public Works could undertake drainage works on the Flesk river only in the context of a comprehensive scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 for the entire Laune catchment in which it is situated. At this stage I could not say when the Laune might be reached in the arterial drainage programme.

211.

asked the Minister for Finance the present position in relation to (a) the Scariff (Graney) river and (b) the Fergus river, County Clare.

These rivers are included in the priority lists on which the national arterial drainage programme is based. It is not possible to say at this stage when they might be reached in the drainage programme.