asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to expand or develop the role of the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

At this stage there are no plans to significantly expand or develop the existing functions or responsibilities of the Office of Public Works.

Does the Minister's reply mean that the functions of the Office of Public Works will be reduced in any way?

The functions of the Office of Public Works are clearly defined and depending on decisions made by the previous Government, the OPW will continue in a statutory role.

To what decisions made by the previous Government is the Minister referring, apart from arterial drainage which altered the position of the Office of Public Works?

Apart from the one to which the Deputy referred, various other decisions were made which have raised many issues. The implications of these decisions will be examined by the various Departments and the outcome considered in due course by the Government.

Do the decisions taken still stand?

So far, the decisions taken still stand.

Will the Minister of State be making a statement regarding the implications to which he alluded on the changed role of the Office of Public Works?

When the implications are fully examined, a statement will be made.

Will this involve a limitation or expansion of the role of the Office of Public Works?

I do not know what decisions will be taken or whether the role of the Office of Public Works will be expanded or reduced.

Will the Office of Public Works continue to be responsible for arterial drainage?

The previous Government took a decision last year that the Department of Agriculture would have responsibility for arterial drainage and that decision still stands.

Could the Minister clarify his statement regarding decisions made by the previous Government? I am aware of the fact that responsibility for arterial drainage has been taken over by the Department of Agriculture but the Minister seemed to indicate that other decisions made by the former Government still stand. To what precise decisions is the Minister referring?

The other decisions to which I and a number of Deputies alluded were announced at the time. Basically, they refer to arterial drainage, Dún Laoghaire Harbour and the transfer from the Department of Agriculture to the OPW of the Botanic Gardens.

Is it true that statutory responsibility for arterial drainage under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, rests with the Office of Public Works? How can responsibility be transferred to another Department when no amending legislation has been introduced?

Based on the decisions already made, these matters will have to be examined by the various Departments and the transferred functions will need legislative change in order to be implemented. They are being examined at present.