Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon. I have discussed this issue previously with him and also with the Minister for Finance.

I ask that the work which was started over 40 years ago on the River Nanny would be completed. One of the reasons for stopping the work is that the river was involved in providing a water supply for the town of Tuam. However, the water supply in north Galway is now supplied by the River Corrib.

A localised flood relief scheme was considered some years ago under the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act 1995 and the work begun on a drainage catchment area should be completed. There is no excuse for this not to happen as the water supply for Tuam now comes from a different source. It would be of great benefit if this were to be done, especially to the farmers in the area, as periodic flooding is a problem. Farm buildings have been affected over the years. I have brought Ministers to see this flooding on many occasions. The project would not involve a great deal of money, although I was unable to get an estimate.

I was glad to hear the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government refer in recent days to a western basin management project. While this does not come under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, it refers to the Corrib and Clare rivers. I hope the Minister of State can give me some indication of an intention to complete this work and an indication of the cost involved in tackling the periodic flooding in this area. This would be of great benefit to farmers and the wider community in the north Galway area.