My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, accepts that there are long-standing water supply problems in the Athenry area. Rationing measures and other restrictions on water supply have resulted from this situation, and these are clearly a source of inconvenience, and in some cases, hardship whenever they occur.
The Minister of State, Deputy John Browne, met recently with a deputation from the mid-Galway area to discuss water supply problems in the Caherfinisker and Lisheenkyle areas. The position regarding Athenry's water supply problem and the need to extend the mid-Galway regional water supply scheme to serve the town of Athenry was also highlighted on that occasion.
The mid-Galway regional water supply scheme was designed over a decade ago to provide water to the area in a number of separate stages. The mid-Galway region was divided into four zones for this purpose. Zones 1, 2, 4 and Phase 1 of zone 3 have already been connected to the regional scheme, at a cost of more than £1.7 million. The latest phase completed, zone 3, phase 1, has brought water from Oranmore to Derrydonnell. The town of Athenry is in zone 3 also and under the next stage, zone 3, phase 2, it is proposed to pump water from Derrydonnell to a reservoir to be constructed at Knocknacreeva. The water will be then pumped from the new reservoir to the town of Athenry and surrounding areas. The proposed works include 11,324 metres of trunk mains, 6,098 metres of rising main, and two pump stations. The reservoir at Knocknacreeva will have a storage capacity of 4,545 cubic metres. This will provide a guaranteed supply to the town of Athenry and serve a number of group schemes along the route.
Galway County Council has been advised to prepare contract documents for site investigations for this second phase of zone 3. These are awaited in the Department of the Environment. Contract documents for the pipelines and reservoir will obviously depend on the results of these site investigations. The overall estimated cost of the second phase, at 1992 prices, is £1.8 million. This scheme is currently being considered for EC co-financing in the context of the post-1993 operational programme for environmental services.
The National Development Plan provides a total of £605 million for the water and sanitary services programme for the period 1994-99. This level of expenditure is in line with the commitments of the environment action programme. Within the framework of the National Development Plan and its emphasis on targeting areas of greatest need, preparation has begun on the operational programme for environmental services. Priorities under the operational programme will take account of a wide range of factors including the need to meet our obligations under the EC Urban Waste Water Directive, to improve water quality standards, and to meet the requirements of industry and the tourism sector.
Galway County Council has benefited considerably in recent years from investment in water and sanitary services schemes. Over the last five years alone, nearly £16 million has been allocated to schemes in the county. The allocation for 1992 and 1993 has been in excess of £5 million each year. The Tuam regional water supply scheme, at an estimated cost of some £20 million, has been submitted to the EC Commission for Cohesion Fund aid. This project is currently at tender stage.
In conclusion, the position on the Athenry water scheme is that site investigations — a vital part of the planning process — are being advanced. Approval of the main scheme will have to be considered in the overall context of the new operational programme for environmental services. I will, however, bring Deputy Ó Cuív's concerns directly to the attention of the Minister for the Environment.
