asked the Minister for the Environment if hís attention has been drawn to the fact that a major sewer renewal reconstruction programme is required in the city of Dublin; that substantial sections of the city's sewers are in danger of collapse; that if major reconstruction works are not undertaken a serious public health hazard could result; and the action he intends to take to enable Dublin Corporation to undertake the necessary reconstruction works.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Sewer System.
3.
There are no specific proposals before any Department in respect of such works. I am advised that Dublin Corporation have, over the years, carried out such works from their own resources and I would be concerned if further action of this kind were not taken by the corporation where public health hazards may arise. I will carefully consider any specific proposals that may be submitted by the corporation but, taking account of the financial arrangements made in previous years for such works and the absence of specific proposals, I cannot give any commitment to the funding of such works.
Is the Minister aware of a report dated 11 January 1989 from Mr. Seán Haughey, Assistant City Manager, in which he states that there is an on-going process of deterioration in the sewerage system of the City of Dublin and that the corporation lack the financial capacity to tackle the problem? He warns in this report of the possibility of the collapse of many sewerage pipes.
I am sorry to interrupt the Deputy, but he appears to be quoting.
I am just summarising a very detailed report.
Quoting at Question Time is not in order.
I am summarising, with respect, from a detailed report.
In the view of the Chair, he is actually quoting.
I am summarising the report, a Cheann Comhairle.
Let us not quibble about it.
Is the Minister aware of that fact? Is he also aware that in the same report the assistant city manager points out that defective sewers could result in the pollution of ground water and that there is serious concern that the virulent Weil's disease, contracted through skin abrasions, which is——
The Deputy is creating a prededent which the Chair does not like. It is clear to me that he is quoting.
If you wish, Sir, I shall hand up the document and you will see that I am not quoting. I have the capacity to hold a document in my hand and paraphrase what is contained in it, for the purpose of putting a supplementary question.
The Chair draws his own conclusions.
The Chair's conclusions, with respect, are incorrect. In light of the publishing——
Deputy Shatter, will you please give the reference for what you are quoting?
I have already given it. It is a report of the assistant city manager dated 11 January 1989. It would be impossible to quote it because it is a very detailed report.
I would prefer if the Deputy desisted from quoting. I am concerned about a precedent in this matter. My predecessors have always ruled accordingly.
Is the Minister aware of this report, or of the danger of disease, or of the danger of a collapse of the sewerage system? Is he aware of the statement by officials of Dublin Corporation that the corporation would require in the region of £7 million per year over a period of 25 years just to tackle this problem? Is there any action that the Minister proposes to take with regard to this matter?
I am aware that some of the sewers serving Dublin city were constructed in the last century and these would have been constructed with brick and earthenware pipes. Due to age and chemical erosion and the very weight of traffic, obviously some will be put under greater pressure than others. An ongoing programme of sewer replacement has been in place since 1974. I believe that about £10.6 million has been spent on that programme to date. I am aware that this is an inadequate resource with which to deal with the problem; that has been communicated to me. There are no detailed proposals before me from the corporation for my consideration at this time concerning this matter. When those detailed proposals come before me, they will certainly get my full consideration.
In the light of the urgent nature of this problem, of the possibility of the sewerage system collapsing around the city of Dublin and of the report stating that there is a danger of infestation entering the public water system, would the Minister call in officials from Dublin Corporation as a matter of urgency and get from them a very detailed breakdown of the nature of the problem? Could the Minister indicate to the House, in the context of EC structural funding, whether it is intended to look for any funding to enable the city of Dublin to tackle this problem and obtain the necessary finances for this to be done?
All the matters referred to by the Deputy are possible, but it would be unusual, to say the least, for the corporation not first to make their submissions to me in so far as what they regard as adequate or desirable for the restoration of the system is concerned. Following the submission of such a report, I shall be happy to talk further to the officials about the whole matter. It might just be possible to have access to funding other than own resources to deal with the problem. I do not know.
A brief supplementary, Deputy.
This is a very brief final supplementary question. As far as the Minister is concerned, there is no danger posed to the general public in Dublin at present due to the state of the sewers?
No, I cannot say that, because some of the sewers, as I say, are very old and some have collapsed and have been restored and replaced after collapse. I told the Deputy that £10.6 million has already been spent on this work. Obviously, there is some more money to be spent, but I will not know the extent of that until such time as I get technical advice in the form of decent proposals or plans as to how the corporation proposes dealing with the matter.
Perhaps a member of the Minister's Department might telephone the officials and ask them——
It is not normal practice for the Department to telephone around to local authorities asking them to do their own work. Usually we are inundated with demands, or proposals, or submissions for funding. I think this should be tackled the other way round.