asked the Minister for Local Government when the moneys for the headworks and trunk mains will be made available for the Burncourt, Ballyporeen, Skeheenarinky, County Tipperary group water scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
9.
The local authority is, at my request, at present revising its proposals for the public scheme which will provide water for this group. The question of providing finance for the public scheme will not arise until the planning of the scheme has been completed.
Can the Minister say when this revision was requested?
On the 7th of August last the local authority were requested again—this was the second or third time—to submit a revised report containing a complete reassessment of the scheme. The report has not been received yet.
Does that mean that reports submitted by county councils are inadequate?
No. The original arrangement was considered to be reasonable but in September, 1974, the local authority requested permission to proceed with a proposal to construct headworks to provide water for a large group. The proposal was based on the original scheme but excluded a distribution network. In other words, the local authority changed considerably the original proposal. In these circumstances, there was no alternative but to ask them to redesign and send in their report.
Is it a question of the Minister playing for time and money?
While that might not be a bad idea, it is not a factor in this case.
10.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will approve an extension to Ballycumber sewerage scheme, County Offaly, which the council submitted to his Department some time ago.
This proposal is under consideration in my Department and I will convey my decision thereon to the local authority as soon as practicable.
Is the Minister aware that contractors who are in the area now may be leaving it shortly and, consequently, could we have a decision in the very near future?
I appreciate what the Deputy says. This point has been made but the proposal has been with us for only a very short time. I would be anxious that, if at all possible, this additional proposal would be met.
11.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction a tender for a water and sewerage scheme for Johnstownbridge, County Kildare; and the date the tender was submitted by Kildare County Council for approval.
The proposal of the Kildare County Council to accept a tender for this work was received in my Department on 15th October and is under consideration.
12.
asked the Minister for Local Government the current position regarding the installation of Inistioge sewerage scheme, County Kilkenny; and when he expects work will begin on this project.
I am not in a position as yet to give my decision regarding this scheme, the contract documents for which are under consideration in my Department.
Can the Minister give any indication as to when the works are likely to commence?
No. I should like to be able to give such indication but it would be unfair of me to guess. Apart from proposals from local authorities in respect of schemes such as this there is a national priority list and some of those schemes, while very good in terms of their own local authority area, would not rate high on a national priority list. Unless they are placed high on the list by the local authorities concerned they may be passed over by their own authorities in next year's estimates.
Therefore, it would be reasonable for people who live in the Innistioge area of Kilkenny to assume that no work will be carried out in the foreseeable future?
I would not say it would be reasonable to assume that.
Might the work be carried out within a year or two?
That depends on what decision Kilkenny reach next year in regard to the scheme. If they say to me that they are prepared to proceed with the scheme from whatever funds they may receive next year, the scheme would be given top priority. The Deputy would be in a much better position than I to know whether this is likely but I think both of us would agree that it is not likely. Therefore, the question of whether the scheme will be proceeded with next year is anybody's guess.
13.
asked the Minister for Local Government if any progress has been made towards the construction of the Clogh-Mooneenroe sewerage scheme, County Kilkenny; and when work will begin on this project.
This is an expansion scheme which is likely to cost more than £1,500 per house. I suggested that consideration be given to the possibility of formulating alternative proposals which would service the Clogh/ Chatworth areas but reports by the consultant engineer and county engineer would appear to indicate that this would not effect any worthwhile reduction in the capital cost because of certain problems. I have not yet given any decision on the contract documents which are before my Department because the capital available for sanitary services is necessarily limited. Since we cannot finance all schemes at once, priority must be given to those which are most urgent and which give the best return on expenditure. Accordingly, it may be some time before I will be in a position to give approval for this scheme. The Deputy is aware that there was a deputation received last night and that some progress was made.
14.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of group water schemes sanctioned for FEOGA grants; the number located in County Cork; and the number that will be paid this year.
FEOGA aid has been awarded by the EEC Commission in respect of 14 group water schemes, none of which is located in County Cork. Payment of FEOGA aid is a matter for the EEC Commission but it appears unlikely that any payments in respect of group schemes will be made before the end of this year. Only one application for payment has been received in my Department to date and this will need to be amended before transmission to Brussels.
Can the Minister say what criteria is applied in order that a group water scheme qualifies for a grant?
I have not got the qualifications to hand but I will send them to the Deputy.
15.
asked the Minister for Local Government when FEOGA grants will be paid to the promoters of Dooneen group water scheme, Millstreet, County Cork.
The EEC Commission did not award any FEOGA aid for this scheme. Notification to this effect was sent to the secretary of the group on 31st July, 1975.
16.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he intends to sanction the compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of the site for the septic tank for the Naul, County Dublin, sewerage scheme.
I confirmed this compulsory purchase order on 28th October, 1975.
17.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction the regional sewerage scheme to serve Droichead Nua, Naas, Clane and other areas in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
Contract documents for the mechanical plant for the treatment works and pumping stations for this scheme are under examination in my Department. I am not as yet in a position to indicate when a decision thereon can be given.
Is the Minister aware that no major planning applications have been approved in the Naas, Newbridge and Clane areas during the past three years and that this failure to release such schemes is one of the greatest contributing factors to the decline in the building industry in the area? Is he aware, too, that this situation is placing an embargo on all building in the area and that the county council are requesting him constantly to release this scheme so that development can go ahead?
I am not aware that the situation is as outlined by the Deputy but I am prepared to take his word for it. If he says that is the position I will accept it but I am sure Deputy Power will agree that again we come into a question of priority. If Kildare County Council or any local authority want to put schemes on top priority there is no point in putting them down the list, writing to the Department and asking why we are holding up the schemes. They know the answer to that. As far as this one is concerned I imagine it should be fairly high on the list but I cannot now say when it will be proceeded with. Maybe in a couple of months I might be able to give Deputy Power more information.
Would the Minister be able to advise me that if Kildare County Council were prepared to say that this was their top priority it would be immediately released from his Department?
Not immediately but in next year's Estimate the ones which will be at the top of the list in each local authority will almost certainly be due for completion.
18.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction the water extension from Droichead Nua to serve the Allen area of County Kildare.
Contract documents for this scheme were submitted to my Department on the 16th October, 1975 and are at present being examined.
I would like to impress on the Minister that hundreds of people in this particular area have co-operated with each other and have done what they can locally. I am informed that four years ago, when he was a Deputy for this particular area, he expressed great concern for the people in the Killinea/Allenwood area. The feeling locally is that he has not the same enthusiasm for those people now that he finds himself in the position to grant their requests. Is the Minister in a position to help the Killinea people even though he has decided to repatriate them towards Kildare?
Actually they are not the people Deputy Power is talking about. They were a little bit further back. They were in the Meath constituency. I was very interested in them and I still am. The people Deputy Power is talking about were then and still are in the Kildare constituency, and I leave it to Deputy Bermingham, Deputy Power and his colleagues to press their case.
Those are people in Killinea.
This is not all that relevant.
The Minister might think as little of them as they think of him.
That is a fair comment, but I suggest that the members of the Deputy's party who got all the votes did not appear to do very much for them in 16 years in view of the fact that I am being asked within two years to try to work miracles.
Will the Minister remember them?
I always remember them.
That is what they are afraid of.
Is that a threat or a promise?
It is a promise.
19.
asked the Minister for Local Government the names of all the water and sewerage schemes submitted by Kildare County Council to his Department; the dates they were submitted; and when he is likely to sanction each of them.
Since the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
Scheme |
Date submitted |
Present Position |
|
Lower Liffey Valley Regional Sewerage Scheme, Stage 2 |
3rd July, 1975 |
Contract documents for Pumping Station Mechanical Plant being examined. |
|
Upper Liffey Valley Regional Sewerage Scheme, Stage 1 |
27th March, 1975 |
Contract documents for Treatment Mechanical Plant being examined. |
|
Upper Liffey Valley Regional Sewerage Scheme, Stage 1 |
3rd July, 1975 |
Contract documents for Pumping Station Mechanical Plant being examined. |
|
North East Kildare Water Supply Scheme, Contract 15 |
19th November, 1974 |
Contract documents under Consideration. |
|
North East Kildare Water Supply Scheme Contract 16 |
15th May, 1975 |
Contract documents under consideration. |
|
Kildare Mid Regional Water Supply Scheme, Contract “E” |
16th October, 1975 |
Contract documents being examined. |
|
Johnstownbridge Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme |
14th October, 1975 |
Proposal to accept a tender under consideration. |
|
Johnstownbridge Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme |
4th November, 1975 |
Loan application being processed. |
|
Derrinturn Sewerage Scheme |
20th October, 1975 |
Loan application being processed. |
20.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the successful contractor for the Knockgraffon water scheme, Cahir, County Tipperary has the necessary materials and is ready to commence work but cannot do so because his Department have not made the necessary money available; and when the money will be available.
I am not yet in a position to indicate when a decision can be given on the Tipperary (SR) County Council's proposals for the financing of this scheme.
Is the Minister aware that the contract is available for the work?
Yes, I am. It is one which I imagine will be fairly high on the 1976 list.
Could the Minister explain why the money is not available now when they were told to go ahead with the scheme?
I can explain quite easily. The position is that the proposals last year were for certain works in South Tipperary and adequate money was made available for them. Later in the year, as in many other areas, extra schemes were proposed. It is not possible to find big money like that at the drop of a hat in the middle of the year and, therefore, they have got to wait until the money is made available. I have not got it and although they have twice as much as they had the previous year they still have not near enough. I mentioned this on a number of occasions. The failure to provide the necessary finance for water and sewerage schemes over 30 years has created a back-log which has got to be tackled. We are tackling it as best we can but we cannot find money in the middle or towards the end of the year for a scheme that was not on the list at the beginning of the year.
The Minister said they opted to wait. I do not think they have a choice. They have to wait.
I did not say that.
The Minister said they opted to wait.
I said they were not on the original list.
Let us not argue. Question No. 21.
The Minister said they opted to wait.
The official report will show that.
21.
asked the Minister for Local Government when the money will be available for the Burncourt sewerage scheme, County Tipperary.
This scheme is at an early stage of planning. The question of finance does not therefore arise at this time.