andMr. Barry asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the great hardship and annoyance caused by the slowing down of local authority water schemes, group water schemes and private water schemes; and if so, if he will take immediate steps to see that these most important services are expedited.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Supply Schemes.
15.
There is no foundation for the assertion that there has been any slowing down of group and private water schemes.
The number of grants allocated in respect of participants in group schemes for the year ended 31/3/68 totalled 2,526. This is an increase of almost 70 per cent over the figure for the previous year. The number of cases approved for grants for private water and sewerage installation was over 10,000—a record figure.
The position as regards local authority sanitary services schemes is that so far this year I have authorised schemes to a total value of over £3m. of which £2.4m. refers to water supply schemes. Formal notification has already been issued in most cases and the remaining cases will be notified shortly.
What I have in mind are group water schemes.
Has the Deputy a question to put?
Would the Minister be surprised to hear that in some cases the local contribution has been collected and paid for 18 months and work has not yet commenced? Is he aware that in some of these cases the people are convinced that it is a deliberate "go slow" policy on the part of the Department of Local Government?
And, sure, it is.
Would the Minister consider that 18 months is too long to have the local contribution paid and work not yet commenced? If the Minister has any doubts, I will submit evidence to prove that this is so.
We cannot have statements at Question Time.
I am not aware that what the Deputy alleges is the fact. If the Deputy likes to give me particulars of any particular scheme, I will have it investigated.
I will do that.
Is the Minister aware that since 15th September, 1965, the residents of the town of Ardara, who had then paid their local contribution for a water scheme, are still awaiting sanction by the Minister for tenders to be submitted?
That is not so.
It is so.
I am not so aware.
You should be aware.
I was not asked about it.
That is what you are being paid for.
Is the Minister aware that when Louth County Council asked an officer of his Department to come to them for three-quarters of an hour to discuss a water scheme, his Department refused? There was a letter sent by me as Chairman of Louth County Council to his Department intimating that we would break our agenda and give him that three-quarters of an hour any time of the day he required. That was further refused. The reason is that you have not got the money.
We are dealing with these things in a more efficient way than that.
The reason being, we cannot find out what is wrong with the water scheme. We are not meant to find out. You do not want to tell us.
There is no point in sending officials of my Department down to a county council controlled by Deputy Donegan——
There certainly is. I am proud to control it.
——at which the decisions are made at a caucus Fine Gael meeting in advance of the county council meeting.
I want to know from the Minister what is the difference between a majority of a county council sitting down and deciding what they will do and the Cabinet doing the same thing and bringing it into this House? I will continue to do it and am doing a better job than your boys ever did.
I will ensure that Louth County Council is administered properly, as any other council, whether Deputy Donegan likes it or not. He will not get away with that.
And there will be no houses built. A Member on the far side of the House says that you built 134 in seven years. I am trying to build 189 in three years.
Will Deputy Donegan please resume his seat?
It is a pity we have not a Fine Gael controlled council in Donegal. There might be less rows than with the Fianna Fáil Party.
To deal with your Finegan's wakes there?
Has the Minister not agreed with the assertions from this side of the House and, indeed, with the assertions of private deputations, that there is a slowing down in public water schemes and in group water schemes because of lack of funds? Did he not say that to the deputation from Cork County Council (West)? We accepted it as a truthful statement. Surely, the Minister knows, God knows and everyone knows——
We cannot have a speech.
——that there is a slowing down in public water schemes?
The Deputy has already said that.
Far from there being a slowing down in water schemes, I have produced evidence to the contrary in this House.
Have you produced water schemes?
Yes.
We do not want evidence. All that the people want is water.
Deputy Harte had to run out of the House rather than stay and listen to the chronicle.
You are contradicting the County Manager in Donegal.
It is a fact that the total value of schemes before the Department is £65 million and I do agree that, despite the high level of economic activity in the country, it is not possible to get this amount of money from the people in one year. If it was possible, the physical capacity to carry out the work does not exist in the construction industry.
What about the 55,000 unemployed?