asked the Minister for Finance the reason the proposed arterial drainage scheme for the river Suir catchment area, County Tipperary, is not being proceeded with; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

An arterial drainage scheme for the Suir river catchment in County Tipperary is one of the five drainage schemes currently at design stage in the Office of Public Works. However, because of the enormous size of the Suir catchment area and of the many demands being made on their available staff resources the Commissioners of Public Works cannot say at this time when a scheme for the Suir catchment might commence.

(Limerick East): Could the Minister inform the House of how many head of staff are at present engaged in his Department in design work in relation to the five catchment areas to which he has referred?

That is a rather specific question.

All that I can say to that question is that there is a large number of staff involved in design work but I have not at my disposal information on the exact number involved in each catchment or the total number.