Vol. 334 No. 6
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position in relation to the proposed Lough Easkey regional water supply scheme; the present estimated cost of the scheme; and when it is intended to make funds available to enable a start to be made on the scheme.
143.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the fact that the present Easkey/Enniscrone water scheme is inadequate both in terms of quantity and quality and that major group water schemes and tourist and farming industries are greatly dependent on a new scheme, he will provide the necessary funds to enable a start to be made immediately on the Lough Easkey regional water supply scheme for which detailed plans are with his Department.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
Having regard to the need to conserve capital for the schemes of the highest priority, I regret that I am not at present in a position to say when a decision on the contract documents for this scheme which are under consideration in my Department may issue to the local authority or when work will commence.
I prefer not to indicate the estimated cost of the scheme in case this might prejudice the pricing of tenders for the scheme.
144.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding the second phase of the Lough Talt regional water scheme; when the plans were first submitted to his Department; the cost of the scheme; and when it is intended to make funds available to enable a start to be made on it.
145.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the fact that an additional supply of water is needed for Tubbercurry, County Sligo, where industrial development is taking place, that it is needed to service the villages of Ballinacarrow and Coolaney where the existing supply is inadequate both from a quality and quantity aspect and that it is further needed to serve a large group water scheme at Mullingar/Breena to cater for 160 households, he will provide the necessary funds to enable a start to be made immediately on the second phase of the Lough Talt regional water supply scheme.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
Contract documents for stage 1, phase 2 of the Lough Talt Regional Water Supply Scheme were submitted to my Department by Sligo County Council in February 1981 and are under consideration at present. The proposals for the scheme must be considered in the context of the amount of capital available for sanitary services schemes, the need to conserve available capital for schemes of the highest priority and the number of such schemes in progress or getting to construction for which adequate finance must be provided, including the following schemes in Sligo: Sligo and Environs Water Supply Scheme; Coolaney Sewerage Scheme. I am not in a position to say when a decision will issue to the local authority on the contract documents for the Lough Talt scheme.
I prefer not to indicate the estimated cost of the scheme in case this might prejudice the pricing of tenders for the scheme.
146.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position in relation to the North Sligo regional water supply scheme; the present estimated cost of the scheme; and if, in view of the serious deficiency in the quality of the existing scheme, which necessitates the curtailment of supplies particularly during the summer period, he will make funds available to enable an immediate start to be made on the necessary work to bring the supply in the area up to normal accepted standards.
Contract documents for phase 1 of the North Sligo Regional Water Supply Scheme were recently submitted to my Department by Sligo County Council and are under examination at present. I cannot indicate at this stage when I will be in a position to issue a decision on the contract documents to the local authority. The question of finance will not arise until the scheme is fully approved and tenders are sanctioned.
I prefer not to indicate the estimated cost of the scheme in case this might prejudice the pricing of tenders for the scheme.
