Vol. 504 No. 2
241 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory nature of the water in the Ardboley group water scheme (details supplied); if he will make arrangements to expedite the provision of water from the Lough Mask regional scheme to the Balla group water scheme, County Mayo; if the design has been approved by his Department; and the state of progress sanctioned by him in this regard. [11624/99]
It is understood that while the source of supply to the areas referred to provides generally potable water, the source can suffer from quality variations. A preliminary report for Lough Mask regional water supply scheme – extension to Balla and Kiltimagh, was submitted to my Department in 1990 but has not been approved. A revised proposal relating to the phasing of the scheme, with the initial phase serving Balla and a number of group schemes, was submitted to my Department on 27 April last. The scheme comes within the terms of my Department's circular letter L9/98 of 22 October 1998. This circular asked each local authority to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in its area and to prepare a prioritised list of projects based on the assessment. The priority lists will be taken into consideration by my Department in framing future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the next national development plan 2000-06.
