asked the Minister for Local Government whether there are any proposals before his Department for the extension of the water supply in County Wicklow (a) from Rathnew to Cronakeary, (b) from Glenealy to Ballymanus and (c) from Glenealy to Bahana; and, if so, when sanction will be given.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Supply Schemes.
20.
Having regard to the necessity to conserve available capital for housing and other essential services only those sanitary services works of the highest priority can be allowed to proceed at the present time. On this basis I have, over the past year, released for commencement sanitary services schemes to the value of more than £300,000 in Wicklow.
As regards the schemes referred to in the question the local authority have not acceded to a number of requests from my Department that they should submit an integrated priority list of the water and sewerage schemes in planning in their area and I cannot say what degree of priority they wish to attach to them nor when a decision thereon is likely to issue.
21.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received preliminary plans from the Donegal County Council relating to a proposed water scheme to serve the village of Newtowncunningham; and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter.
Donegal County Council envisage that Newtowncunningham will ultimately be provided with a permanent water supply as part of the extended Lough Mourne Scheme, proposals for Stage I of which have been approved by me. As that scheme is essentially a long-term major project, proposals for a water scheme to provide for the area in the interim period were submitted to my Department on the 16th ultimo. These have been the subject of discussion at technical level between officials of my Department and the local authority as a result of which revised proposals are to be submitted to my Department shortly.
In view of the gravity of the situation could we have an undertaking now from the Minister that there will be no undue delay?
They will be dealt with as soon as they are submitted. They cannot be dealt with before that.