asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the village of Watergrasshill, County Cork, is dependent on one pump for its water supply, and that during the summer months this supply is completely dried up, thereby causing extreme hardship to the people of the village; that for the past five years the North Cork Board of Health have had under consideration the provision of a water supply to the village, but nothing has been done; that the board of health has already built 12 cottages in a three-acre plot adjacent to this village, and that those cottages have neither water supply nor sanitary facilities; if so, if he will state what steps his Department proposes to take to provide a proper water supply and to end a state of affairs which is a danger to the health of that district.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Watergrasshill Water Supply.
I am aware of the necessity for providing an improved water supply for the village of Watergrasshill. My information is that the North Cork Board of Health and Public Assistance have not adopted a scheme recommended by the county medical officer of health and that they favour a source of supply which has not been established to be either reliable in quantity or economical in cost, as compared with the alternative source. The board were informed in October last and again in the following month that before the source proposed could be further considered, it would be necessary to have gaugings taken over an extended dry period. Further information in this respect has not been supplied and on the 19th instant an inquiry was addressed to the board as to whether they were in a position to supply particulars of any gaugings since made.
Has any provision been made for the sanitation of the 12 cottages which were built on three acres of land, leaving less than a quarter of an acre to each cottage?
The approved plans for the cottages provide for pail closets.