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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 May 1973

Vol. 265 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

41.

asked the Minister for Local Government if, in regard to the water supply in Birr, County Offaly, his Department intend either to replace or augment the existing scheme.

42.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he has any plans for improving the water supply in Birr, County Offaly; if there are at present any proposals before his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.

The improvement or augementation of a public water supply is a matter primarily for the appropriate local authority.

A scheme to improve the supply to Birr was approved in principle by my Department in 1969. Contract documents for the scheme were received from the local authority on the 6th April, 1973, and are at present under examination.

May I add there will be no undue delay.

43.

asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the Dunkerrin, Moneygall, County Offaly, group water supply scheme.

Work is in progress on this scheme which will provide a piped water supply for 209 houses. My Department have allocated grants totalling £17,138, or £82 per house, for the scheme. To date, 48 grants to the value of £3,936 have been paid and arrangements are being made for the payment of a further 50 grants amounting to £4,100.

44.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will approve of the plans for Rhode regional water scheme, County Offaly, where the water supply position is unsatisfactory.

The position in regard to this project is that Offaly County Council recently submitted a preliminary report for consideration by my Department. I hope to be in a position shortly to give my decision.

45.

asked the Minister for Local Government why work is not proceeding on stage II of the Ballydaly group water scheme, County Cork; and if he will take steps to have it expedited.

Difficulty was experienced in finding a suitable source for stage II of the Ballydaly scheme.

However, agreement has now been reached with the joint owners of a source on Caherbarnagh Mountain and the group are at present collecting cash contributions from persons wishing to participate in the scheme. The preparation of a design may be arranged as soon as the collection is completed.

46.

asked the Minister for Local Government when he expects work will commence on a group water supply scheme for Roscahill, County Galway.

The Department's inspector will shortly complete a detailed examination of the design for this scheme and proposes to consult Galway County Council. When the design is jointly approved by my Department and the sanitary authority, the group will be advised to seek quotations for the supply of the necessary materials and the execution of the scheme. I cannot say, at this stage, when work on the scheme will commence.

Could the Minister tell me when the design was received in the Department?

I cannot say. The proposal was originally received in July, 1971. I am quite sure the Deputy will remember that. He must have seen it going through.

I initiated the scheme myself. All I want to know is when the design was lodged in the Department.

No progress was made until April, 1972, when an inspector, having failed to contact the original organiser, made contact with another member of the group, who was interested in obtaining a water supply.

Following this discussion interested members of the group had a general meeting at which officers and a secretary and organiser were appointed.

The new organiser immediately carried out a canvass of the area and inspector called on the area and completed a survey scheme. The local inspector called on the organiser at the end of May—that would be May, 1972—and found that a survey of the catchment area of the proposed lake source was under way and that the location of the houses was being plotted on the ordnance survey map.

Galway County Council were asked on 12th June, 1972, to take samples of the water for chemical and bacteriological analysis and, at the end of July, the group were advised that the results of the quality tests were satisfactory and in mid-August details of the lake catchment survey, togather with completed ordnance survey maps and surveys were received. It would appear, therefore, that a mid-August last year these details were received in the Department.

The scheme would be designed after the chemical and bacteriological quality of the water were deemed to be satisfactory. When was the design lodged in the Department.

If it was not in the Department on 13th March last, it must have come in since then.

That is not at all a satisfactory answer. Will the Minister write to me and tell me when the design was lodged?

I shall be glad to do so.

47.

Mr. Kitt

asked the Minister for Local Government the present position of the proposed Menlough group water supply scheme, County Galway; and when the scheme will be finally sanctioned by his Department.

The design for this scheme has been approved by my Department and Galway County Council subject to certain modifications. The group are at present seeking quotations for the work. When these are received, firm costings will be determined and the appropriate grants will be allocated.

48.

Mr. Kitt

asked the Minister for Local Government the number of extensions proposed and awaiting sanction in his Department to the Caltra-Castleblakeney, Ballymacward, County Galway, group water supply scheme; and the present position of each proposed extension.

The Caltra-Castleblakeney-Ballymacward group water supply scheme catering for approximately 268 houses is nearing completion.

Proposals have been received to serve ten additional areas, covering 134 houses, by way of extensions from the main scheme. Detailed examination of these proposals has been deferred until the main scheme is completed and fully operational. Only then will it be possible to assess whether it would be technically feasible to serve all, or any, of the extensions from the headworks and distribution system of the main scheme.

49.

asked the Minister for Local Government when he intends to sanction the moneys required for the Ardfinnan water scheme, County Tipperary.

A loan to meet the cost of this scheme will be made available when a tender for the work has been approved. I understand that the local authority have now invited tenders for the scheme.

50.

asked the Minister for Local Government if approval has been given to the commencement of work on the Foilmahonmore, County Tipperary, group water scheme.

Tipperary NR County Council have been asked to arrange for the carrying out of yield and quality tests on the spring well which the group propose to use as a source.

Further progress is not possible until my Department are satisfied that an adequate supply of potable water is available.

51.

asked the Minister for Local Government when the Rising Sun group water scheme in the Ballinhassig area of County Cork will commence.

My Department recently allocated a grant of £1,395—15 houses at £93 each—to this scheme and work may now commence.

52.

asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the Castlestrange and Rockley group water scheme, County Roscommon.

As quality and yield tests carried out by Roscommon County Council on a borehole at Castlestrange confirm that an adequate supply of potable water would be available from this source to supply the 12 houses in the proposed scheme, my Department have advised the group to arrange for the preparation of a design for the Castlestrange/Rockley scheme.

53.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will approve the loan application submitted by Offaly County Council for Clonbullogue sewerage scheme.

I sanctioned this loan on the 18th April, 1973.

54.

asked the Minister for Local Government when work is likely to commence on the extension to the Charleville sewerage scheme, County Cork.

The present position about this scheme is that the Local authority are re-examining it. Consequently it is not possible now to indicate when work is likely to commence.

55.

asked the Minister for Local Government when application for sanction for the proposed sewerage scheme for Newtownshandrum, County Cork, was received in his Department from the Northern Committee of Cork County Council; and when he proposes to grant the sanction.

Preliminary proposals for this scheme were submitted to my Department on the 19th August, 1971.

Further technical data which the council were requested to supply to enable the project to be assessed are still awaited.

Is it the position that the council have not replaced?

That is correct.

56.

asked the Minister for Local Government the present position in regard to the sewerage scheme proposals for Newtown-Cunningham, County Donegal.

I approved a tender for this work on the 27th April.

57.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether there are plans in his Department for a sewerage scheme for Kilflyn, County Kerry; and, if so when he proposes to sanction it.

There are no proposals before my Department for such a scheme.

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