Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1993

Vol. 426 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Environment Matters.

Mr. M. Kitt

I thank the Minister for expressing an interest in the Williamstown sewerage scheme and for meeting a deputation from the area last year.

I have raised this matter previously on the Adjournment. For the people of Williamstown it is a source of serious concern that even though this scheme was first proposed in the late fifties sanction has not been granted by successive Governments since then. I understand that the scheme will cost £330,000. This money should be provided this year so that the sewerage scheme for Williamstown can be sanctioned.

The village of Williamstown is located in a low lying area and there are problems with soil percolation. The national school, a seven teacher school, and facilities such as the community centre need a sewerage scheme. There are six public houses in Williamstown and each of the publicans has been in contact with local representatives to have this sewerage scheme provided.

Contract documents for the scheme were submitted by Galway Country Council in September 1982. I hope at this stage that all the documents have been submitted to the Department, including a report on the site investigation and the bills of quantities and that the Minister will be able to sanction the scheme in 1993.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

The Department of the Environment approved a preliminary report for the provision of a sewerage scheme to serve Williamstown a number of years ago. It was clear there was a need for the scheme because the facilities serving that area were totally inadequate. Galway County Council submitted contract documents for site investigations in July 1992. The county council subsequently submitted the overall contract documents for the scheme in September 1992 and supplied the necessary certificate of completion of planning in December 1992.

These contract documents are being technically examined at present. It is clear from the documents submitted that the county council has expanded the scope of the scheme to serve additional premises and amended and extended the route of the outfall sewer. These amendments, which were not approved by my Department, have had the effect of significantly increasing the estimated cost of the scheme.

A technical examination of these documents is being carried out at present. I am well aware of Deputy Kitt's concern to ensure that funds are provided for the scheme this year and, as soon as the technical examination is completed, I will do what I can to ensure that finance is made available at the earliest possible date.

Mr. M. Kitt

I wish to raise the question of extending the Ballymacward/ Caltra/Castleblakeney group water scheme to the townlands of Tycooley, Newtown and Breda. I am very familiar with this scheme because I happen to be one of its consumers. There are 550 consumers in all and the scheme is supplied from two sources.

As I understand it, it is proposed that approximately one and a half miles of pipe be laid to serve over 20 houses and I hope that sanction can be given. The trustees of this large scheme agreed to extend the water supply but are having problems in that the families at Ballymacward need to be developed. They have proposed to the Department that the pumphouse should be relocated at the springs and that there will be a rising main from the new springs to the reservoir. I ask the Minister to consider undertaking this work at the same time, namely, the improvements at the source of the supply and the extension.

This scheme represents good value for money. Even though it is a large scheme the trustees are in a position to provide water over a distance of one and a half miles to a further 20 familes. While there are 129 group water schemes in County Galway awaiting approval I hope the Minister will sanction the improvements and the extension as soon as possible.

Mr. M. Smith

The proposed Newtown-Tycooley group water scheme is an extension of the Castleblakeney/Ballymacward group water scheme and is intended as Deputy Kitt has said to serve up to 15 households and farms. Its development was delayed for a number of years because the group was unable to locate a suitable source of water supply. In 1992, the Castleblakeney/Ballymacward group agreed to make a supply available to the group provided their distribution system was capable of meeting the additional demand.

The Castleblakeney-Ballymacward scheme is supplied from two sources. The main source of supply at Alloon Cross is subject to quality variation. High concentrations of dissolved calcium and related suspended matter result in a deterioration in water quality as well as reduced flows in the distribution systems due to extensive encrustration.

The Castleblakeney-Ballymacward group have submitted outline proposals to upgrade the scheme headworks at Alloon Bridge and to provide additional water treatment to overcome the problems associated with excessive calcium levels. Water treatment in this instance is a complex matter and Galway County Council is assisting the group in examining effective means of treating the source.

The proposed Newton-Tycooley scheme is located in the Caltra area which is mainly served from a deep well source and not directly affected by the problems at Alloon Bridge, the main source of supply. However, the distribution system in this area has been extended beyond its original design capacity and existing pressures and peak flows are inadequate to facilitate an extension to Newtown-Tycooley without provision of booster pumps and possible storage.

My Department has advised the Castleblakeney-Ballymacward scheme to make provision for the additional works needed in order to supply Newtown-Tycooley when making their overall proposal regarding the upgrading works now being considered. In the meantime, my Department will be requesting the Newtown-Tycooley group to submit a design for the proposed extension. However, I am sure that Deputy Kitt can appreciate that further progress must await developments on the Castleblakeney-Ballymacward scheme.

I am aware of the concern of members of the Newtown-Tycooley scheme to proceed with the development of their scheme. I will ensure that the groups application will be considered further as soon as circumstances permit.

Group water scheme are a very important source of water supply for rural communities. There is a strong local commitment and I will do my very best over the next few years, including at EC level, to have the finances available to me increased to permit many of the group water scheme which have been proposed to proceed. I will sanction this scheme as soon as possible.

Mr. Nealon

The general election of November last brought little joy in its wake, but I have to admit to one positive outcome in County Sligo — a start is to be made on the west Sligo group water schemes. This is not much of a start — just one phase of one scheme — and this decision was not made until the voters were about to go into the polling booths. It was faxed down to beat the deadline. This was an election ploy if ever I saw one, but the promise was made and I was glad to learn from the Minister last week in answer to my Dáil question that it is to be honoured.

What about the rest of the schemes in west Sligo which are all equally urgent? The problem is well known to the Minister. Part of west Sligo is without piped water and is surviving on wretched alternatives. Yet, a superb source supply of 500,000 gallons a day exists in the pipeline stretching through the heart of the territory from Corhownagh Church near Ballisodare to Corballa Church near the Mayo border.

The Minister, unasked and for some reason still unexplained, divided the Castleconner group scheme into three phases with promised funds for just one phase. When will work on phase two and phase three start? Will the work be continuous? Will the division into three phases mean extra costs and, if so, who will pay? When will the Minister provide funding for the Skreen-Dromard scheme? When will he provide funds for the Kilglass scheme and the very small scheme at Cooga? The Minister found it possible in November, with all the preoccupations of the time, to give the go-ahead and the funding for phase one of the Castleconnor scheme. Surely he knows there is an equal need for phase two and phase three, for the Skreen-Dromard, Kilglass and Cooga schemes. I am now asking the Minister to give a promise that he will provide immediate funding for all the schemes, to complete the job and remove this major problem from a beautiful part of a beautiful county.

Mr. M. Smith

Deputy Nealon said the general election brought no joy. Surely it brought joy in some places, if not in Fine Gael.

Mr. Nealon

I said it brought little joy.

Mr. M. Smith

I am sorry, I am sure the Deputy is aware that I met the representatives from that area early last year after my appointment. I indicated that those schemes would exhaust the resources at my disposal for the entire country having regard to the cost per house. However I promised that I would look at the possibility of obtaining EC funds and subsequently I was able to make a start on the schemes. Indeed I have done far more than anybody else, despite the pressures on my resources, to make a start on these schemes.

As the Deputy knows, group scheme grants and contributions from members are insufficient to finance these schemes and a substantial contribution from the provision for the public water and sanitary service is required.

The Deputy will appreciate that the financing of sanitary services schemes generally, including large group schemes, will have to be addressed in detail when the 1993 allocations are published tomorrow. It will take a little time to settle details of all allocations throughout the country. I have made a start and I intend to continue that work as soon as I can.

Mr. Deenihan

Stage IV of Kerry central regional water scheme involves the townlands of Doon, Listollick, Lahern, Lissanearla, Guranne, Kileen, Ballyroe, Curravough, Ballintobeenagh, Lismore and Leith. The residents of the townlands mentioned are very annoyed and, indeed, frustrated at the lack of progress on the commencement of Stage IV.

In the Ballyroe area the local organiser collected over £7,000 over three years ago. Small sums of money were collected in the other areas over six years ago and the expectation was that work would commence immediately. The area that Stage IV will serve is densely populated. Several householders are involved in agriculture, agri-tourism and in the guesthouse business, all with a high dependency on the availability of quality water.

Many of the householders have bored wells. However, the quality of water is most unsatisfactory as it has a high iron content due to the nature of the underlying rock — pensil. This iron water is not the most suitable for domestic use as it corrodes the water pipes resulting in continuous maintenance work and replacement of boilers, water pumps, etc. The water in most households has a most unpalatable taste. The supply is also inadequate and unpredictable.

I appeal to the Minister to give a firm commitment tonight that he will provide the necessary funds to enable work to commence on Stage IV immediately.

Mr. M. Smith

I am surprised that Deputy Deenihan did not allude to the fact that this major scheme will serve 1,100 houses. The first and second phases have been completed at a cost of £600,000 and serve 600 houses. Work on the third phase is proceeding at present for which £500,000 was provided in 1992. Outstanding grants will be paid when the scheme is completed. The fourth and fifth phases are under consideration and will follow when the third phase is completed and as resources permit.

The position with regard to group water schemes nationally is that we are unable to meet the demand from the resources available for these schemes and have had to devise a list of priorities but under no circumstances could Deputy Deenihan suggest to this House that we have not been mindful of the needs of the people living in these areas having regard to the fact that two very expensive phases have been completed and the third is nearing completion. The cost of upgrading the pipe so that it can be integrated with the regional scheme has added enormously to the cost of the scheme but will ensure that the quality of water in that area will be greatly enhanced.

Mr. Deenihan

Is there any hope for this year?

The Dáil adjourned at 9.20 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 17 February 1993.