asked the Minister for the Environment if he will provide moneys for the augmentation of the Dungarvan town water supply, County Waterford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Sewerage Schemes.
14.
(Dublin South-East): Having regard to the amount of capital available for the overall water and sewerage programme and the need to provide adequate finance for schemes in progress or getting to construction, I regret that I am not in a position to say when I may convey a decision to the council on the contract documents for the major water augmentation schemes which are under consideration in my Department. My Department are awaiting a report from Dungarvan Urban District Council on the possibility of carrying out an interim water supply improvement scheme under the small schemes programme.
Does the Minister think he will be able to sanction the money for such an interim water scheme?
(Dublin South-East): I will examine the matter but I am not in a position to make a firm commitment of that kind.
15.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will provide moneys for the provision of a marine outfall for Dungarvan Urban Council, County Waterford, as a matter of urgency.
(Dublin South-East): I approved the contract documents for the Dungarvan marine outfall on 28 May 1982. The question of providing finance for this scheme will be considered when the relevant tenders and loan application have been submitted to my Department and approved by me.
16.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position in relation to the Mulrany sewerage scheme, County Mayo.
(Dublin South-East): Contract documents for the Mulrany sewerage are at present under consideration in my Department. The proposals for the scheme must be considered in the context of the capital available for sanitary services schemes, the need to conserve capital for schemes of the highest priority and the number of such schemes at present in progress or getting to construction stage for which adequate finance must be provided, including the following schemes in Mayo: Lough Mask regional water supply scheme (Castlebar), Achill water supply scheme, stage 4A, Claremorris water supply scheme, Tourmakeady water supply scheme, Charlestown/Bellaghy sewerage scheme, Ballina main drainage scheme.
I am not at present in a position to say when a decision on the contract documents for the Mulrany scheme will issue to the local authority.
17.
asked the Minister for the Environment when sanction will be given to Roscommon County Council to commence the north Roscommon regional water supply scheme (stage 1).
18.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he will approve the plans submitted by Roscommon County Council for north Roscommon regional water supply scheme (stages 2 and 3).
(Dublin South-East): With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.
The local authority's proposals for stage 1 of the north Roscommon regional water supply 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 for which adequate finance must be provided. I cannot, at present, indicate when I will be in a position to approve the tenders for stage 1 which are under consideration in my Department.
Stages 2 and 3 of the north Roscommon scheme are dependent for a water supply on stage 1. Accordingly, the question of approving the preparation of contract documents for any further stage is being deferred until work is under way on stage 1.
Can the Minister give any indication as to when money will be made available to the council to proceed with the north Roscommon regional water scheme, stage 1, in view of the fact that the mains are laid and that there is no source of water until the scheme gets under way? Tremendous hardship is being caused to people and there is a lot of damage to the pipes.
(Dublin South-East): I am not in a position to give the Deputy such an indication.
19.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he intends to give approval to Roscommon County Council to invite tenders for the south Roscommon regional water supply scheme (2).
(Dublin South-East): Roscommon County Council's proposals for stage 2 of the south Roscommon regional water supply scheme are at present under consideration in my Department. I cannot indicate at this stage when I will be in a position to issue a decision on the proposed scheme to the local authority.
In view of the urgency of this scheme due to the development of the bogs which is taking place in Ballyforan and the need to provide services and so on, is it not possible to provide capital so that water can be provided from the mains to the village?
(Dublin South-East): No. It is not possible to give such an indication to the Deputy.
20.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he will give approval to Roscommon County Council to proceed with plans for the Roscommon sewerage scheme (stage 3).
(Dublin South-East): I have only recently received preliminary proposals for this scheme. I cannot indicate when I will be in a position to give a decision thereon to Roscommon County Council.
21.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he will grant approval for the invitation of tenders to Roscommon County Council for Ballyleague sewerage scheme.
(Dublin South-East): The approval of contract documents for the stage 1 of the Ballyleague sewerage scheme cannot be considered until the Roscommon County Council confirm that the necessary treatment works site and way leaves for sewers have been acquired. The submission of the necessary confirmation is awaited in my Department.
It is my information that this information has been supplied to the Department.
The Deputy was told that the Department did not have the information and must act on that basis.
I cannot accept that because I am satisfied that the information has been given.
(Dublin South-East): In view of what the Deputy says, I will have another look at it but I have no reason to doubt that the information I have given the House is anything but accurate.
22.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he intends to approve the preliminary report submitted by Roscommon County Council regarding the Monksland sewerage scheme (stage 2).
(Dublin South-East): Having regard to the need to conserve capital for the schemes of the highest priority, I am not in a position to say when I will approve the preparation of contract documents for stage 2 of this scheme.
23.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he intends to approve the preliminary report submitted by Roscommon County Council for the Tarmonbarry sewerage scheme.
(Dublin South-East): Having regard to the need to conserve capital for schemes of the highest priority, I cannot say at present when a decision may issue to Roscommon County Council on the preliminary proposals for this village sewerage scheme which are under consideration in my Department.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Can the Minister give any indication of the number of schemes submitted by Roscommon County Council which are awaiting approval in his Department?
(Dublin South-East): Unfortunately, no. I cannot give such an indication or go further than the information I have given in the answer.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not strange that the Minister would give as the reason for not approving this scheme that he must conserve finance for other schemes having a higher priority, presumably in County Roscommon, if he does not know how many schemes are before the Department?
(Dublin South-East): I appreciate what the Deputy says but he must appreciate that it is misleading to give wildcat promises to the House. I have no intention of giving any. Whether that is pleasing or displeasing to the Deputy, that is the situation.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I do not say this in an argumentative way but the answer given by the Minister about priority is merely a formula for telling the House that there is no money in the Department to go ahead with this scheme and that he has not the foggiest idea when the money will be available.
(Dublin South-East): I do not accept what the Deputy says. I said there were financial constraints. That is the position and no-one is running away from it.
I should like to ask the Minister——
I have already allowed six supplementaries.
In view of the fact that there are 12 schemes from Roscommon with the Department at present and that no money has been provided this year for new starts, can the Minister say what moneys are likely to be made available to the council?
(Dublin South-East): Regrettably, as I have already told the Deputy, it is not possible for me to give that information. It is only going over the same ground again.
Will any money be made available this year?
(Dublin South-East): I have answered all the questions. That is a separate question and if the Deputy wishes to put it down, I will answer it.
24.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the irregular water supply and poor water pressure in the Ashtown and Navan Road area of Dublin city and county; and the steps he intends to take to rectify the position.
(Dublin South-East): The operation and maintenance of the public water supply system at Ashtown and Navan Road area of Dublin city and county is primarily the responsibility of Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council, as sanitary authorities for the city and county portions of the area respectively. I understand that the public water supply system in this area has recently been improved following joint measures taken by Dublin County Council and Dublin Corporation and that the pressure in the public system is now adequate.