asked the Minister for Local Government if there are any proposals in his Department for the extension of Roscommon town sewerage scheme in the direction of The Walk; and if he will make a statement on the present position in respect of this extension, indicating when he proposes to give sanction for it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
32.
Revised preliminary proposals for a sewerage scheme for Roscommon which provide for an extension along The Walk were submitted to my Department by Roscommon County Council on 25th ultimo and are at present under examination. I am not in a position to say when a decision is likely to issue.
33.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will take steps to have a water supply provided by Mayo County Council to Inver district and schools.
Preliminary proposals for the Belmullet regional water supply scheme, Stage 1 of which will enable a supply of water to be made available to the Inver district, are under consideration in my Department.
The scheme is included in the review of regional schemes in County Mayo and elsewhere which is being carried out by sanitary authorities generally throughout the country. A decision thereon must await the outcome of this review.
34.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that Kerry County Council are seeking a loan of £250,000 for the north-east Kerry regional water supply scheme; and if he will indicate the present position regarding this loan.
A loan to finance the provision of the headworks of the north-east Kerry regional water supply scheme and a trunk main to Tarbert was approved by me on 2nd February, 1968.
35.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether there are any proposals before his Department for the extension of the piped water supply to the Rathbeale cottages, Swords, County Dublin.
Dublin County Council's proposals for a water main extension at Rathbeale Road, Swords, were approved by me on 30th November last.
I am now informed by the local authority, however, that they have decided to defer the scheme until a suitable source of supply becomes available on the completion of contract 5 of the North Dublin regional water supply scheme, which is at present in progress.
In view of the fact that the people in these cottages have been without water for the past 18 months, would the Minister take steps to ensure that this scheme is expedited? There is a pump in the vicinity upon which Dublin County Council put an "Out of Order" sign since the water was alleged to be unfit for human consumption. The scheme mentioned by the Minister was proposed and sanctioned but nothing has been done. The pump has not been repaired and the people have to travel 2½ miles to procure water.
I will ask the county council to go ahead with their original scheme, but apparently they have decided not to do so until contract No. 5 of the North Dublin regional scheme is completed. I do not know why they changed their minds. Apparently the source of supply was to have been the Killeek reservoir, but it was found to be of poor quality.
The Minister and Deputy Foley might talk to Deputy P.J. Burke about it; he is chairman of Dublin County Council.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 36.
There is an obstructive Coalition majority on Dublin County Council.
This is County Dublin and I do not think it has anything to do with Deputy Tully.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Foley may ask a question.
May I say these people have no supply of water? They have to travel 2½ miles to the nearest pump.
Shame.
I will ask Dublin County Council to expedite this scheme.
(Cavan): Is it not a fact that, following a promise of regional water supply schemes some years ago, the provision of pumps was suspended and, now that regional water supply schemes seem to have been suspended, would the Minister take steps to reintroduce the provision of pumps?
That is a separate question.
Deputy Fitzpatrick is only showing his ignorance of this whole matter. This scheme is under construction at present. Apparently Dublin County Council abandoned their original intention of providing an extension until such time as this regional scheme is in operation and, as Deputy Fitzpatrick should know, not only have regional schemes not been abandoned——
(Cavan): Of course they have been abandoned.
——but they were instituted by this Government and are going ahead at a very rapid rate of expenditure.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I have called Question No. 36.
(Cavan): Is it not a fact that the Minister asked every public authority in the country to reduce their plans and, in fact, suspended them; and the Minister knows that?
Question No. 36.
Deputy Dunne has abandoned this part of his constituency.
Deputy Dunne never abandoned anything.
(Cavan): The inspired question has misfired.
Order. Deputies must allow questions to continue.
Deputy Dunne is living in hopes that the single-seat constituency will be there when the next election comes. He has wiped the dust of County Dublin off his feet.
Ballyfermot Post Office.