asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that the Ballinamore/Ballyconnell drainage board has not been able to carry out maintenance on its catchment area for the past year because of failure by Leitrim and Cavan County Councils to provide it with the necessary finance; and if he is prepared to issue a directive to the county councils concerned to have the matter resolved immediately.

I have no power to issue a directive to the county councils in the matter. In any event, I am advised that Cavan and Leitrim County Councils are under no legal obligation to provide finance direct to the trustees board of the Ballinamore/Ballyconnell drainage district. Their obligation is to recoup each individual landowner the amount of drainage maintenance rates already paid by the landowner to the drainage board trustees.