asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of proposals to abstract a substantial amount of water from the River Liffey; and if he will arrange an examination of the scheme to determine the effects of such a large abstraction on salmon and other fishing in the river.

Dublin Corporation have submitted preliminary proposals to my Department for improvements to the Dublin water supply which would be carried out in stages and would lead to increasing abstractions of water from the impounded waters of the River Liffey at Poulaphuca over the next quarter of a century. While one self-contained stage of the works required to meet water supply needs in the immediate future has been approved, all aspects of the overall proposals, including those related to fishing, will be taken into account before any decision is taken on them.