asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give the following details in relation to the proposals for sewerage schemes at Summerhill, Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin, County Meath, which are now before his Department: (a) the number of houses to be served immediately, (b) the maximum number of houses which could be served by the scheme as at present designed, (c) the provision being made for effluent treatment, (d) the estimated cost of the scheme, (e) the likely duration of construction work, (f) if consultants were employed in the preparation of the schemes, and, if so, who and the fees paid to them, and (g) why the scheme has not yet been sanctioned by him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
1.
The Ashbourne, Dunshaughlin and Summerhill sewerage schemes will serve respectively 450, 110 and 60 houses initially and are designed to cater for 1,100, 600 and 175 houses ultimately or an equivalent sewerage load. Treatment proposed is surface aeration with settling tanks prior to discharge to the Broadmeadow River in the case of Ashbourne, oxidation ditch and slow sand filtration prior to discharge to the Skayne River in Dunshaughlin and oxidation ditch with clarifier prior to discharge to the Cloneymeath River in Summerhill. Estimates of cost are: Ashbourne £340,000, Dunshaughlin £160,000 and Summerhill £65,000. Consultants were not employed on Dunshaughlin and Summerhill, while Messrs. Jennings and O'Donovan, consulting engineers, were employed in the preparation of the Ashbourne scheme. Meath County Council have been asked to forward details direct to the Deputy on the amount of fees paid in respect of the Ashbourne scheme and also to provide estimates of the likely duration of construction work on each scheme.
Contract documents for the Ashbourne scheme and working drawings for the Dunshaughlin and Summerhill schemes are under consideration in my Department. I cannot say when I will be in a position to convey a decision thereon to the local authority.
I thank the Minister for a very full reply. In respect of the delay in sanctioning the Ashbourne scheme is the Minister aware that the lack of a sewerage scheme is causing pollution of the Broadmeadow river and a serious local nuisance? Would the Minister ask the Minister for the Environment to try and have sanction given quickly?
I agree that the matter is urgent and requires attention and I will convey that view to the Minister.
2.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding stage I of the Ennistymon, Lahinch, Liscannor water improvement scheme, County Clare
I understand that tenders for the carrying out of site investigations in connection with this scheme are being examined by the council's consultants.
3.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position concerning the Oranmore, County Galway, sewerage scheme.
I understand that the local authority are preparing revised preliminary proposals for this scheme.