asked the Minister for Local Government if in view of the vital necessity of farmers having running water for the production of clean milk, he will expedite sanction for water schemes, some of which have been held up for the past two years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes
14.
Having regard to the necessity to conserve available capital for housing and other essential services, it is only possible to allow those sanitary services works which have a high priority to proceed for the present.
Will the Minister agree that there is little use in his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, who often sits beside him, talking about grants for milk coolers when, in fact, the farmers who produce the milk have no water to use in the coolers? Will he agree that it is ridiculous and absurd to be talking in two different voices?
There are so many of these regional schemes before my Department that the only practicable thing to do is to review them, identify the more urgent of them, and try to carry out as many of these urgent ones as possible.
When Cork County Council proposes a regional scheme to supply a rural district, will the Minister agree he holds up the tender for two years in his Department and, in the light of that, is there not something radically wrong?
No. It is possible to put forward any number of these proposals but it is not possible for the community to provide the money necessary to carry them all out at the same time. Neither would it be possible for the industry to carry them all out at the same time.
Arising out of this——
I am calling Question No. 15.
15.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position of the Ballyanehan and Derryvillane water scheme, County Cork, contract documents for which were sent by the northern committee of Cork County Council to his Department on 9th March, 1966.
The position has not changed since my reply to the Deputy's previous question of 17th November, 1966 in the matter.
May I take it that the people waiting for water in these regions have no hope of getting it in the foreseeable future?
The Deputy is quite wrong there. This is one of the schemes which must be reviewed so that the more urgent sections may be identified.
When is it likely that the people in the area will have piped water?
Not before the review.
When will that be?
I do not know.
In other words, they have no hope.
They will get it. They will get it before there is a Fine Gael Government.
16.
asked the Minister for Local Government when work on the water scheme for Upper and Lower Rover, Arigna, County Roscommon, is likely to commence and what stage has now been reached on this scheme.
Working drawings for a water supply scheme to serve Upper and Lower Rover, Arigna, are at present under examination in my Department.
I am not yet in a position to indicate when a decision in the matter is likely to issue to the local authority.
17.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that some time ago Cork County Council approved the provision of a water and sewerage scheme for Crookhaven and a sewerage scheme for Goleen; and, if so, if in view of the urgent need for these schemes he will make funds available for them.
There has been no change in the position in relation to these schemes since my reply to the Deputy's question of 5th ultimo.
County yourself lucky that he is not here.
18.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the provision of a sewerage scheme for Newport, County Mayo.
I understand that revised contract documents for this scheme were submitted recently to Mayo County Council by their consultant, and are at present under examination.