asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state if he has received any representations from local authorities in the Counties of Laoighis and Offaly requesting him to sanction the acceptance of tenders for carrying out sewerage schemes with stoneware pipes made in the constituency; whether he has received or will consider evidence to show that the use of stoneware pipes for such schemes is in the interest of public health and economy; and whether he will now reconsider his recent decisions rejecting tenders for carrying out sewerage schemes in certain towns in Laoighis and Offaly with stoneware pipes and sanction same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sewerage Schemes in Laoighis and Offaly.
I have received representations of the nature referred to in the case of two sewerage schemes in these counties. In both cases the advice tendered to the local authority by their technical adviser was in favour of the lowest tender, which involved the use of pipes other than stoneware. My Department recommended the local authorities concerned to act in accordance with the technical advice tendered to them. In all such cases the recommendations to local authorities are intended to serve the interests of public health and economy. I see no reason for reconsidering the matter.
Arising out of the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary, I should like to know if he is aware that the County Dublin Board of Health, on the advice of their own engineer, recommended that stoneware pipes be used for a sewerage scheme in Finglas, and that, according to the evidence he could produce before the board, concrete pipes have been a failure, particularly where the dairying industry was concerned? Has the Parliamentary Secretary any evidence, or has his Department any evidence, to that effect, and is he aware that, in the case of the Finglas sewerage scheme, the County Dublin Board of Health recommended stoneware pipes?
That is a separate question.