asked the Minister for Finance the number of people employed by his Department on arterial drainage for the year 1984; and the number employed this year.

The average number of people employed on arterial drainage in 1984 was 1,003. There are currently 941 people employed on arterial drainage.

7.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will sanction an arterial drainage scheme on the River Lee, Tralee, County Kerry.

An engineering survey of the Lee (Tralee) catchment area has been carried out as a prerequisite to the formulation of a comprehensive drainage scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. However, pending the outcome of the review of arterial drainage policy and having regard to the number of schemes which precede it on the priority list of minor catchments drawn up for possible examination under the Act, I cannot say when a scheme for the Lee catchment might commence.

A lot of land is being flooded by the River Lee in the Tralee area. We have to differentiate between this River Lee and the River Lee in Cork. Could the Minister give any indication of when that Tralee drainage scheme will start?

This scheme is No. 19 on the list and the Deputy is aware of that. A survey has been carried out. There are many other schemes which have not got to the stage of a survey having been carried out, but I could not, at this time, give any undertaking of when this scheme might start.