106 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the funding provided in 1995 and 1996 to relieve problems associated with the flood on the Nanny River, Duleek, County Meath; the progress, if any, which has been made to date on the relief scheme; and the future timescale and funding proposals, if any, in respect of this scheme. [22401/96]

The design of a drainage scheme, involving the carrying out of a full environmental impact statement and detailed cost benefit analysis of the scheme proposals, for the alleviation of localised flooding from the Nanny and Paramaddan rivers in Duleek, County Meath, which has been ongoing for over a year, has now been completed. It is expected that the public exhibition of the scheme documentation — as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995 — will commence in the next few weeks and continue up to or immediately after Christmas, during which time interested parties, including affected property owners and Meath County Council, will be given the opportunity to comment on the proposals. It is expected that the statutory procedures for the scheme will be completed by the end of February with a view to commencing works on site after Easter. A provision is being made in subhead L.2 of the 1997 Estimates for the Office of Public Works to enable the Nanny River, Duleek certified drainage scheme be carried out next year.