Shannon survey and EC funding
Treacy pressed for an EC application and asked whether OPW staff facing redundancy could help with the survey; the Minister said the wider arterial-drainage review would go to Government before year-end, but gave no commitment. McEllistrim urged a survey next year, and the Minister reiterated that the expired EC funding had to be reapplied for.
In view of the inclement weather this year when the Government had to provide some small, meagre funds to aid farmers in the Shannon Valley——
Comment on this
——will the Minister of State give a commitment to the House that he will now make application to the EC to get the survey moving? Further, will he give an indication of what proposals he has for the large amount of staff who would be made redundant at the OPW in 1986 and can he divert some of those staff into working on that survey for the benefit of farmers in the Shannon Valley?
Comment on this
Yes. A survey on arterial drainage will be before the Government before the end of the year and then they will make decisions on it. I cannot make any promises.
Comment on this
I am disappointed that the EC grant which we were getting to drain the Shannon has now gone and a period of time has elapsed——
Comment on this
The Minister should have a survey done on the Shannon next year in view of the fact that there was severe flooding there this year.
Comment on this
I regret that the EC money must be reapplied for, but I would remind the Deputy that he was in office——