asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will consider increasing the local improvements fund moneys to local authorities and earmarking a proportion of these funds for minor local drainage schemes, as such schemes are now being neglected because of a shortage of money.

The provision for the Local Improvements Scheme for 1983, including the question of what funds may be available for particular elements such as minor local drainage schemes, is being considered in the context of the determination of the Estimates generally for this year.

Would the Minister examine this situation in which because of the shortage of money being provided for some years past under this heading the pressure to have roads repaired is such that nothing is being left for the less urgent or apparently less urgent jobs of minor drainage? Would the Minister consider even within the moneys that are available that some percentage should be set aside out of the total so that some drainage work might be done? Otherwise, the pressure for road repairs is so enormous that drainage would continue to be neglected.

Yes, I shall certainly consider it. I think the Deputy is aware in his capacity as a Member of the European Parliament of the reason why the present situation has arisen, but I will certainly look constructively at his proposal.

Is the Minister aware of how important the Local Improvements Scheme is to rural dwellers particularly along the west coast and down into the southern counties? If he is so aware, will he ensure that the allocation in the Estimates for 1983 will show a substantial increase on the amount provided in recent years? In my view — and I should like the Minister to be aware of it—there seems to be in his Department a lack of appreciation on the part of the officials of the importance of the Local Improvement Scheme. Is he aware that in previous years serious attempts have been made to reduce the amount of money available under that scheme to local authorities?

I am so aware and I am hopeful that the situation will be improving this year.

On a point of technical clarification, would the Minister say, arising out of his reply in which he made some reference to the Estimates for the coming year, what the position is at least as far as his Department is concerned in regard to these Estimates? He is aware that the outgoing Government published the Book of Estimates and the public capital programme. Could he indicate what the position of his Department will be in regard to the Estimate? Is it accepted as published by the previous administration or what is the status of the Estimate at present?

I think the Leader of the Opposition would have to agree that we are getting very far away from the question.

On the contrary, I want to make it quite clear that in his reply the Minister of State did refer to the Estimate for his Department for 1983.

You cannot chase every hare.

No, but I want to ask the Minister, who has referred to the Estimate for his Department for 1983. Therefore, I feel entitled to ask him what is the position in regard to that Estimate in 1983.

As far as I am aware, no final decision has yet been taken in relation to the Estimate.

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