asked the Minister for the Environment when he will sanction the group schemes for Lough Eske and Drumgorman Bridge, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
4.
Donegal County Council are at present preparing plans and design data for the group water schemes at Lough Eske and Drumgorman Bridge. I understand that the council expect to be in a position to forward these documents to my Department within a short period. On receipt of the relevant details the appropriate grants will be allocated if in order.
5.
asked the Minister for the Environment the up-to-date position in relation to Kilcar sewerage scheme, County Donegal; and when work will commence.
Revised contract documents for this scheme submitted to my Department on 9 July 1981 are under examination. I am unable to indicate at this stage when I will be in a position to issue a decision to the local authority in relation to the scheme.
Would the Minister of State indicate when he might be in a position to give some indication?
Yes, in the early new year.
Thank you.
Question No. 6 postponed.
7.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he will provide finance for the augmentation of the Charleville water scheme, County Cork.
Approval to the contract documents for this scheme issued to Cork County Council on 3 June 1981. The question of finance for the scheme will not arise until tenders for the work have been received and approved.
8.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to sanction the laying of a new 28-inch water main to serve the part of Limerick city which is north west of the Shannon, the plans for which were lodged in his Department by Limerick Corporation in 1979; and if he is aware of the serious lack of water pressure there.
The need for this scheme has been established. However, I am not at present in a position to say when approval to the contract documents will issue. The estimated cost of the scheme is £1.129 million. Approval must be considered in the context of the capital resources available for the sanitary services programme and the financing of fully approved schemes in progress or already at construction stage. These include the scheme for expansion of the Clareville Treatment Works in Limerick city at a cost of £3 million so as to increase its capacity from about five million gallons per day to about 11 million gallons per day.
I understand that the corporation are considering improving the water supply pressures in the western parts of the city, pending the laying of the 28-inch pipeline, by the installation of a booster pump. This would cost £10,000 to £15,000 and could be carried out quickly under the small schemes programme. If such a proposal is submitted by the corporation, I will be prepared to see that it is given the highest priority for approval and financing.
9.
asked the Minister for the Environment if in view of the necessity of providing an additional water supply to facilitate industry in Buncrana, County Donegal, he will now sanction moneys to carry out work on the cross-Border water connection on the Bridge End/Derry Border.
The proposed Bridgend Water Supply (Cross Border Connection) was included at No. 18 in Donegal County Council's Small Schemes Programme, 1981. I understand that the council do not intend to carry out this project as a small scheme in the current year but have prepared a report on an alternative major water scheme proposal. Details of the alternative proposal have not yet been submitted to my Department.
10.
asked the Minister for the Environment the up-to-date position in relation to the east Inishowen regional water scheme, County Donegal, the contract documents for which are with his Department for approval.
Contract documents for this scheme are under consideration in my Department. The proposals for this scheme must be considered in the context of the amount of capital available for water and sewerage schemes and the number of such schemes in progress or getting to construction at the present time. Having regard to the need to conserve capital for schemes of the highest priority, I cannot indicate when I may be in a position to convey a decision to Donegal County Council regarding their proposals for this scheme.
In replying to the last number of questions the Minister referred to the capital programme for next year. Does he intend to have this before the Dáil before Christmas, as originally suggested by the Minister for Finance, because there seems to be a total backlog of work which the Minister of State has sat on since the end of June? In view of the unemployment in the construction industry can we know when we will have the capital programme so as to be in a position to know what schemes will go ahead next year?
As the Deputy is aware, we will know the figure when the budget proposals issue.
The Minister will recall we had a number of statements by the Minister for Finance that the Estimates would be brought before the Dáil for scrutiny and examination well in advance of the start of the financial year. Arising out of those statements, when will the Minister for Finance bring next year's Capital Budget before the Dáil for scrutiny and examination?
That is a matter for the Minister for Finance and I suggest Deputy Haughey put down that question to the Department of Finance.
The Minister will agree it is of crucial importance for the operation of his Department, which is one of the largest availing of the Public Capital Programme. Is the Minister not in a position to tell me the state of the Public Capital Programme? Have the Estimates been prepared and when will they come before the Dáil?
The Estimates are presently under review and under preparation. I am not in a position to say when they will be brought before the Dáil because, as I said, that is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
Does that not leave the Minister high and dry?
We have been high and dry since last June.
But the Minister is not home and dry yet, and that is more important.