asked the Minister for Finance if he has made any submission to the EC for funding for groundwater resources investigation.

I have not made any submission to the EC for funding for a groundwater resources investigation as such.

At present funding from the European Regional Development Fund may arise where such an investigation forms part of the cost of a sanitary services scheme but, as indicated by the Minister for the Environment in reply to a question by Deputy Bell on 25 February 1986, the possibility of obtaining funding separately for source investigations will be kept under review by him.

In view of the initial surveys and evaluations of groundwater sources, particularly in my constituency, and because of the problem whereby so many of the overground sources are polluted, would it not be important that funding should be requested for this purpose?

As I have indicated already, the Minister for the Environment said that the possibility of obtaining funding separately for source investigation would be kept under review by him and I cannot go further than that at this stage.

I am thinking of the expense involved. Local authorities would not be in a position financially to undertake those surveys and investigations. There is no grant aid from any Department in this respect. That is why I am appealing to the Minister to ensure that if there is EC money available under this heading it will be made available to us.

I will take note of what the Deputy says, though it should not prove impossible for county councils from their own resources to undertake these investigations.

If the Minister attended any of the estimates meetings last month he would not make that suggestion.

I understand from the Minister of State that in her county such investigations are being undertaken by the county council.

And very successfully, too.

There may be money in Wexford for that purpose but that is not the case in my county.