asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department have decided on a go-slow policy with regard to the sanction of loans and the provision of money for local authorities to implement their planned water schemes; and if, in view of the fact that these schemes are so urgently needed, he will now arrange for their immediate implementation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Schemes.
45.
I can assure the Deputy that no urgent water supply or sewerage scheme is at present being held up through lack of finance. There must, of course, necessarily be a limit on the amount of capital that can be made available for the financing of the local authorities' sanitary service programme in any year having regard to the needs of other essential services such as housing. A sum of over £4.8 million was, however, spent on these services in the current financial year. This is a record figure.
The Parliamentary Secretary will agree that all water schemes and all sewerage schemes that come for sanction are urgent and will he also agree that all local authorities, including the Cork County Council, have been very annoyed with his Department over the slow sanction or the refusal of sanction in many cases of schemes which have been on their books for a considerable time?
I agree that all water and sewerage schemes are urgent but there is the question of relativity and within the framework of the amount of capital available we are taking the most urgent of the sanitary service schemes and again in their wider context of housing and other activities we must use priorities when there is not an unlimited supply of money available.
So there is no money available for these extra schemes and it is wrong for the Parliamentary Secretary to say that there is plenty of money available?
We had a record last year.
You have had a record list before you for years and——
(Interruptions.)
The Parliamentary Secretary knows the situation and he might as well spell it out.
46.
asked the Minister for Local Government when it is proposed to commence work on the piped water scheme for Ardfert, County Kerry.
I understand that the county council are finalising contract details with the contractor and hope to have the scheme under way shortly.
47.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider appointing an additional engineering inspector to assist in the supervision of group water schemes in County Galway.
The inspectorate assigned to group water supply schemes in all areas is continually under review in my Department. There is a general shortage of inspectors for this work and it is hoped to recruit further inspectors in due course. In the meantime, I am arranging to assign an existing inspector part-time to Galway and this will allow extra assistance to be given to group water schemes in that area.