asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the date when a scheme for the provision of a water supply for Stradbally, County Laoighis, was first received by his Department from the Laoighis Board of Health; the number of amended schemes since submitted, and the last date on which he received representations from the board of health on the matter; also the total amount (1) paid, (2) due, to date in respect of engineering fees in connection with the scheme, and the cause of the delay on the part of the board of health and his Department in providing a suitable water supply for the residents of this town.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Supply for Stradbally.
Proposals for the provision of a water supply for Stradbally were originally received in my Department in December, 1931. The details of the scheme then submitted were referred back to the board on several occasions and when the yield, on being gauged in 1934, was found inadequate, other possible sources of supply were investigated.
In 1935 the consulting engineer employed by the commissioner proposed the taking of a supply from springs at Luggacurran, which involved lengthy negotiations with many interests. In November, 1938, details of this scheme were submitted to the Department, following which gaugings of the proposed source were requested. When the gaugings were obtained in November, 1939, it became apparent that the scheme could not be adopted pending further investigation of the yield. The Department has not yet received such information as would warrant any approval being given. It may become necessary to obtain a supplemental source of supply.
The information available in the Department is confined to the technical details of the two schemes submitted, and as neither of them reached the stage at which the financing of works could be considered, the Department has no information regarding any items of expenditure incurred on preliminary investigations in connection therewith.
There has been no delay on the part of the Department in dealing with the two proposals submitted. The local authority has met with exceptional difficulties in obtaining a suitable source of supply. I would refer the Deputy to the replies given to previous Parliamentary questions on 28/2/35, 5/5/36 and 24/2/37.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think that the commissioner or whatever body is responsible for the provision of a suitable water supply locally can justify taking up nine years in considering the type of scheme that must be provided and can he relieve himself of all responsibility in a matter of this kind where the public health of the people of a large town is so much concerned? Will he make representations to the commissioner before he leaves office to present the Department with an acceptable scheme?
As the Deputy is aware, exceptional difficulties were encountered in this case in connection with the source. The Deputy is aware of that.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary mean to suggest that no suitable source of supply can be found?
So far no satisfactory source has been found.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary, if it is not unfair to ask him, suggest that one of his Departmental engineering inspectors should inquire into this matter?
The matter is being inquired into at the present time. Further gaugings have been taken.