asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he has received reports from the responsible medical officers of health regarding the unsatisfactory sanitary conditions in Callan, Tullow, and Muine Beag, and whether he will now afford improved financial facilities to the local authorities concerned to enable them to proceed forthwith with the provision of adequate sewerage schemes in the towns mentioned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sanitary Conditions in Carlow Towns.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is not clear what improved financial facilities are sought. Advances out of the Local Loans Fund for the carrying out of such works are available.
Is there any possibility that these facilities will be improved under the Relief Schemes Grant?
The grant under the relief schemes will be applied strictly to the relief of unemployment. It would be undesirable that it should be applied any other way, that is, relief to any particular district that would not normally come to another district.
Does the Minister mean that there is no unemployment in these centres? I can assure him that there is as much there as in any other small town.
No. I mean that the presence of unemployment will determine the extent to which the relief grant will be applied there. I understood the Deputy to suggest, apart from the question of unemployment, that the relief grant would be voted to these schemes.
Is the Minister aware that from the public health point of view alone, apart from unemployment, in two of the towns, Muine Beag and Tullow, the conditions are most primitive and injurious to the health of the people? There is no water supply in Tullow, while in Muine Beag there is no sewerage scheme but a water supply. It is disgraceful.
The disgrace is under the noses of the local authorities responsible for dealing with the matter. We cannot apply different principles in dealing with these matters in one area as distinct from the rest of the country. The matter has been under consideration by the local authorities but for one reason or another they have not yet decided to act. If they do wish to act the money is available under the Local Loans Fund.