asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the lack of sanitary accommodation in the village of Clonbur, Co. Galway, is a serious menace to the health of the inhabitants; whether he is aware that this menace is all the greater in view of the fact that there is a school in the village with a roll of two hundred and fifty children; whether a petition has been addressed by the residents in the village to Lord Iveagh, whose game farm of three thousand acres surrounds the village, praying that he give a portion of this farm for back yards in which the residents may provide sanitary accommodation; whether this petition has been ignored; whether any compulsory powers are vested in the Minister which would enable him to acquire this land for the purpose specified, and, if not, whether he will see that consideration is given by the Land Commission, which has also been asked by the residents to assist them in the matter.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - CLONBUR (GALWAY) SANITARY ACCOMMODATION.
A scheme for improving the sewerage of Clonbur has been under consideration by the local authority, but I am not aware that the present lack of sanitary accommodation is such as to become a serious menace to the health of the inhabitants. The proposals put forward by the sanitary authority would serve about six houses. On the 26th of last month it was pointed out to the Board of Health that a simple septic tank without aeration should give adequate treatment to the small amount of sewage involved, and if at a later period aeration is considered necessary a suitable filter could be easily added. It is not necessary to resort to compulsory powers for a sewerage scheme if only way-leaves are concerned. If land is required for treatment of sewage and it cannot be acquired by agreement, an application for the compulsory acquisition of the lands may be made. What is apparently intended in this case is land for back gardens or back yards, and a proposal of that nature could not form part of a sewerage scheme. The provision of gardens might conceivably be considered for the purposes of a housing scheme, but there is no power vested in the local authority to improve private property within their district. I am not aware of the petition referred to by the Deputy. I will refer the matter to the Land Commission for consideration.