asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the urgent need to provide a much larger amount of money for the implementation of piped water and sanitary facility schemes; and what provision is being made towards this end.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
18.
The capital allocation of £5.75 million for sanitary and miscellaneous services for the current year shows an increase of £1.75 million over the original allocation of £4 million for 1968-69 and an increase of £1.25 million, or more than 25 per cent, over the total allocation of £4.5 million for last year.
This is a very substantial increase and is, I think, an indication of my concern to make the maximum capital provision for the implementation of the sanitary services programme having due regard to the demands of other essential services such as housing.
Surely the Minister is aware of the total inadequacy of the figure he mentions? Surely, he is further aware that his Department has been inundated with requests from local authorities for the past number of years since he took office in this Department for extra money for the extension of piped water and the provision of sanitary facilities to no avail whatsoever and that local authorities have, in fact, been unable to secure the amount of money required?
The Deputy is making a speech. The Deputy may ask a question.
Is it not a fact that since the Minister took over the Department there has been flagrant disregard of the importance of extending these essential amenities? Is the Minister not further aware that less than half of our people enjoy piped water or proper sanitary facilities? Is he going to blind his eyes much longer to the needs of our people in this regard? I am putting it to the Minister that he is showing utter disregard of duty.
We cannot have a debate.
It is not a debate. I am asking the Minister to face up to his responsibilities in this matter.
The Deputy may not make a speech on the question.
I am aware that the efforts of the Government to get local authorities to prepare schemes for the provision of water and sewerage have met with considerable response. I am also aware of the fact that the amount of money provided for this purpose every year has been increasing and that a number of schemes are started such year. I am also aware of the fact that it is not possible, either financially or physically, to do all the work that is planned in one year.
Is the Minister not aware that there are schemes in his Department for the past five years awaiting sanction of the necessary money—extensive regional schemes— and that as yet, despite all our requests and representations, no money is forthcoming, which is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs?
I am aware that the country has not got either the physical or financial capacity to carry out all these schemes at once and that they can only be done on the basis of a planned programme, giving priority to those schemes that are most urgent.
Can the Minister give us any hope of an extra allocation of money this year?
Question No. 19.
19.
asked the Minister for Local Government what grants he is making available to the Kerry County Council in the present year for new water and sewerage schemes within the county and, in particular, for the Ballybunion water scheme.
The total amount of capital for sanitary and miscellaneous services allocated to Kerry County Council to date in 1969-70 is £203,800.
There are no proposals before my Department for a water scheme for Ballybunion.
Does the Minister realise that Ballybunion development is held up due to lack of water and, Ballybunion being a major tourist resort, the development of which depends solely on these facilities being made available, I would ask the Minister to give due consideration to these factors.
The provision of a water supply for Ballybunion, or anywhere else, is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. There are not any proposals before my Department.