asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the inadequacy of the present water supply at Killarney; if plans for laying a new water main to the town have been submitted to his Department; if he will state the date on which the completed plans were submitted; if they have yet been considered; and when sanction for the execution of the work might reasonably be expected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Killarney Water Supply.
I am aware of the fact that the existing water supply at Killarney is inadequate to meet the demands of consumers. While there is an ample supply of water available at the source, the capacity of the filters is unequal to the daily demand and the service main is unable to supply at all times the houses at the higher levels of the town. Further, in order to fill the service tanks at the mental hospital it is necessary to cut down the main supply to the town at night.
As the existing filters cannot be extended on the present site it will be necessary to construct new headworks, with provision for chemical treatment to counteract the corrosive quality of the water which has contributed to the present shortage by reducing the capacity of the distributive system. It is proposed also to lay a new service main, to provide a service reservoir and to scrape and reline the distribution mains.
Detailed drawings of the proposals were received in my Department on the 9th November last. They have been discussed by my technical advisers with the consulting engineer responsible for the scheme and a number of alterations were agreed on. It will be necessary to prepare amended drawings incorporating the alterations and when this has been done the preparation of specifications and bills of quantities will be undertaken. It would not be possible at this stage to indicate when approval will issue to the carrying out of the work.