Vol. 403 No. 2
56 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the serious water shortages experienced this year in the Dublin area; if he intends to have any discussions with the Dublin local authorities regarding the supply situation; if he will provide any additional resources to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
113 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the water supply crisis in many parts of the northside of Dublin in recent months; and if he will outline (a) the plans he has sanctioned for expanding the capacity of the system to supply the northside, (b) the timescale and funding commitments which he has made in these plans and (c) the further improvements in the planning stage which are not yet sanctioned.
I propose to take Question Nos. 56 and 113 together.
I am fully aware of the difficulties with water supplies in the Dublin area. My Department has been in close contact about the situation with the local authorities concerned, who are of course responsible for the provision and management of water supplies.
Work is in progress on a major scheme to increase the water production capacity of the Ballymore Eustace treatment plant. In addition, I have recently approved a preliminary report to improve the efficiency of the Vartry water supply treatment plant. As well as long term proposals, this report includes short term measures that will allow the Vartry treatment plant to improve the quality and quantity of water production. My Department has asked Dublin Corporation to expedite the planning of these proposals so that work can commence as soon as possible.
