asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the Skehanagh group water scheme at Doneraile, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
14.
There is no current proposal before my Department for a group water supply scheme at Skehanagh/Doneraile, County Cork.
May I ask on behalf of Deputy Cronin why there is not a scheme before the Minister? Has it not been placed by the local authority? Is that the answer to the question?
There is no current proposal before the Department. In May, 1973, representations were made to the Minister by the Doneraile Fianna Fáil cumann concerning a proposal for a group scheme to serve 13 houses in this area, application for which was said to have been made four months previously. Having no record of such a proposal, the Department checked with the supervising inspector for the area who confirmed that nothing had been received in the Cork office. I would advise the Deputy to get on to the Doneraile Fianna Fáil cumann and ask them to be a little more efficient.
This is a very important matter from the point of view of the people concerned.
It is very sad for the Doneraile Fianna Fáil cumann.
I was going to ask if the request came from the Fine Gael club would the position be different.
There can be no argument.
The Deputy is misunderstanding the situation. The Doneraile Fianna Fáil cumann never sent it in. They are asleep for the past 15 months.
15.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the Ballyanihan/ Derryvillane water supply scheme in County Cork.
The construction of stage I of this scheme is nearing completion. I have recently approved the preparation of working drawings for a further stage of the scheme.
16.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present plans for the Bridevalley regional water supply scheme, County Cork.
As far as my Department is aware, this scheme has not been accorded a high overall priority by the local authority.
It is primarily for the county council to consider whether in the current circumstances of the area and the other priority needs in the county there is an urgent need for any part of the scheme.
17.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will examine the plight of residents of Ticknock, County Cork, whose houses are still without running water despite several promises from Cork County Council.
The advice available to me is that a supply to these houses could best be provided by means of a group scheme.
18.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the Tonegurrane/ Drumgriffin group water scheme, Currandulla, County Galway.
Galway County Council have granted permission for the use of a council borehole as a source of water for both areas. My Department is awaiting a decision by the groups as to whether they will carry out a single scheme or whether the Tonegurrane group will first complete their scheme and allow a connection to the Drumgriffin group.
19.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction proposals to provide extensions to Castlegar, Cloonacauneen, Briar Hill and Ballybrit under the Galway city water supply improvements scheme.
Proposals for these extensions were submitted to my Department on the 21st June, and are being examined.
20.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the Ballymoney/ Menus/Parke group water scheme, Dunmore, County Galway.
A proposal has been received for a group water scheme to serve 22 houses in this area, by way of an extension from the public supply at Dunmore. Galway County Council have informed my Department that permission will be given for such extension when a new booster on the Dunmore waterworks system is fully operational.
Is the Minister satisfied that sufficient staff is being provided by his Department to cater for the large number of applications submitted for approval under this scheme?
I am satisfied.
That is not the opinion in County Galway because there is a big volume of applications being submitted at the moment. I would ask the Minister to consider appointing extra staff. There definitely is not enough staff to cater for the number of applications being submitted.
I will convey that to the Minister.
The Minister has indicated that he is satisfied. Does that mean, in view of the fact that there is this lack of technical knowledge available that the Minister is going to leave this area denuded for that purpose for some time to come?
The reason I am satisfied that there is sufficient staff is that it appears to me from supplementary information that the matter is not lying idle, that Galway is doing its job, that they are proceeding.
The Minister said he was satisfied.
I am satisfied because they seem to be proceeding quickly.
21.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding Killea group water scheme, County Donegal.
The design of this scheme has been approved by my Department and Donegal County Council subject to the use of increased pipe sizes on certain sections.
A grant of £1,216—16 houses at £76—has now been allocated.
What date is "now"?
16th July.
22.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the delay in proceeding with the Manorcunningham/Corkey, County Donegal, water supply scheme; and if he will take all necessary steps to expedite this scheme as the district is in dire need of water.
23.
asked the Minister for Local Government the proposals, if any, in his Department for a water supply scheme for Manorcunningham/ Corkey, County Donegal.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 22 and 23 together.
Preliminary proposals for this scheme were approved by my Department on the 20th February last.
I understand that the preparation of detailed documentation for the work is almost completed and will be submitted to my Department shortly.
24.
asked the Minister for Local Government why, despite repeated representations, the final payment of the group water scheme grant has not been paid in respect of Ochtore, Kerrykeel, County Donegal group scheme, notice of completion of which was furnished to his Department six months ago.
In my reply to a parliamentary question by Deputy Blaney on 19th June last, I explained the general problem in processing group water schemes in County Donegal and the proposals made to deal with it. I may say that, despite this difficulty, my Department have arranged the payment of two further grants in respect of the Ochtore/ Kerrykeel scheme leaving only one of the 11 grants allocated for the scheme unpaid. The last grant will be paid as soon as the group promoter furnishes receipts and details of expenditure required for the preparation of the final account.
May I ask the Minister, despite the difficulties as outlined in his reply, what action he is taking in this case which seems to have been scandalously treated? I say that deliberately.
I can give the Deputy supplementary information which seems to be rather satisfactory or, at any rate, reasonable. On 22nd January, 1973, the promoter reported that the scheme was complete. An acknowledgment was issued and the file was referred to the supervising inspector for a report. Due to pressure of work on house price control and the housing stock survey, the supervising inspector was unable to inspect the scheme. He recently arranged for inspection to be carried out by the assistant county engineer who reported last month that he asked the group promoter to forward receipts and details of expenditure to enable the preparation of the final account to be made. On 12th July, 1973, the assistant county engineer further reported that he had visited the area and that the work appeared to have been satisfactorily completed. Arrangements have been made to pay a further two grants. A building inspector currently engaged on housing work will do the plumbing inspections as soon as humanly possible.
Would the Minister convey to his colleague the disquiet and the inconvenience being caused to all group water supply organisers in Donegal where for a considerable time we have been without an inspector from the Department or representative of the Department and, further, will he say if he will look into the lack of courtesy, to say the least of it, that has obtained over the past four months where the organiser, local county councillors for the area and myself could not even get the courtesy of a reply to repeated representations?
I will certainly convey that to my colleague and I am indebted for the information.
25.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the proposed group water scheme at Abbert, Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, County Galway.
My Department is awaiting the submission of a design for this scheme from the group.
26.
asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the industrial expansion in the village of Watergrasshill, County Cork and the inadequacy of the public water supply, he will have urgent steps taken to have improvement effected in the supply.
There are no proposals before my Department regarding improvements to the Watergrasshill water supply.
I should like to have that answer repeated, and slowly.
The Minister is breaking the speed limit.
I am asking the Minister to be kind enough to repeat the reply.
I will repeat the reply, slowly:
There are no proposals before my Department regarding improvements to the Watergrasshill water supply.
Thank you.
27.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position with regard to the provision of a water supply scheme at Waterloo, Blarney, County Cork.
There are no proposals before my Department for the provision of a water supply at Waterloo, Blarney.
28.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received proposals from Mayo County Council for improvements to water supply schemes at Charlestown and Swinford, County Mayo.
I approved the appointment of a consulting engineer on the 23rd May last to prepare a report for the improvement of the water supply to Swinford/Charlestown. No further proposals have since been submitted to my Department.
29.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position in regard to the Whitegate sewerage scheme, County Cork.
The carrying out of this scheme, which has been sanctioned by my Department, is the responsibility of the county council. I understand that the final stage of the scheme has had to be deferred as difficulty has arisen over the site for the settlement tank and outfall pipe of the scheme.
30.
asked the Minister for Local Government the position in regard to the proposed extension of Milford sewerage system to serve the 20 or more dwellings on the Kilmacrennan Road, Milford, County Donegal.
Contract documents for this scheme are under examination in my Department. I expect to be in a position to give my decision on them shortly.
31.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position in regard to the sewerage scheme at Youghal Road, Midleton, County Cork.
I approved a proposal, by Midleton Urban District Council, on the 9th May last to carry out the sewering of this area in advance of the main drainage scheme for the town.
Is that Youghal Road, Midleton?
If it is in the supplementary information I will tell the Deputy. Whether it is the Youghal Road, Midleton, is not in my supplementary information.
Did anything come from the urban council?
As I told the Deputy, the proposal was approved but the supplementary information does not tell me whether it is in respect of work at the Youghal Road, Midleton. It is a proposal from Midleton Urban Council.
32.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction a proposal for an extension of the sewerage scheme at Camden Road, Crosshaven, County Cork.
No proposals have to date been submitted to my Department for the extension referred to by the Deputy.
33.
asked the Minister for Local Government when the plans for the sewerage scheme for the Clonburris, Deansrath area of Clondalkin, County Dublin will be sanctioned.
Proposals for this scheme were submitted to my Department on the 28th May, 1973. I hope to issue my decision on them shortly.
34.
asked the Minister for Local Government if sanction will be given soon to preliminary reports for Ballina, County Mayo sewerage scheme.
I have approved the preliminary proposals for this scheme in so far as they relate to sewers and ejectors and have asked the local authority to reconsider certain technical aspects of the proposed treatment works.
35.
asked the Minister for Local Government when work will start on the sewerage scheme for Charlestown, County Mayo.
Contract documents for this scheme were approved by my Department on the 22nd December last, and a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of lands for the purification works was confirmed on 6th March last. It is for the local authority to order the further planning of the project.
36.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state when Killala County Mayo sewerage scheme will begin.
Contract documents for this scheme were approved by my Department some time ago. I understand that the local authority are experiencing difficulty in acquiring a site for the outfall works and consequently I can give no indication when the scheme will get to construction.