Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 3

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Tony Killeen

Question:

101 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht whether he sought the permission of Clare County Council to transfer sewage from the proposed national park entry point at Gortlecka to one of its treatment plants; and whether he consulted with local people regarding the transportation of sewage along local roads. [25181/96]

Tony Killeen

Question:

102 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the reason for his proposal to remove part of the existing sewage treatment system at the Burren National Park; the projected cost of this removal; and the implications, if any, for the local environment of using a less complete treatment system. [25182/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

Tógfaidh mé Ceist Uimh. 101 agus Uimh. 102 le chéile.

Officials of my Department were in constant contact with officials of Clare County Council during the period of preparation of the planning application for the proposed visitor facility at Gortlecka.

My Department arranged through the Office of Public Works for the preparation of the planning application. Provisional agreement to transfer the treated effluent from the site to a county council sewerage treatment facility was obtained by letter from Clare Councy Council subject to further investigation by the council on the capacity of the sewage treatment plant at Clare Abbey, Clare-castle. As the application was lodged shortly thereafter, it was considered that the securing of definitive agreement would be one aspect of the overall planning application to Clare County Council.

The reason for the removal of part of the sewage treatment plant is to reflect the currently proposed scaled down visitor facility and the fact that the effluent will not now be disposed of on-site. In this context, the Deputy will note that there is no question of the treatment system being less complete.

The reason for transporting the treated effluent is that, while such effluent would not in itself be harmful to the environment, it would have a higher level of phosphates and nitrates than the ground water in the general area around Gortlecka and, accordingly, it was deemed more environment friendly to transport it away from the site rather than to dispose of it on-site. The transfer of the treated effluent should have no detrimental effect on the local environment but in any event will, of course, be taken into account by the planning authority.

The projected cost for the removal of part of the existing sewage treatment system is in the order of £40,000.

Joe Walsh

Question:

103 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes sanctioning Stage One of the Clonakilty western water distribution scheme, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24959/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

Contract documents for this scheme have been submitted to my Department but, given the high level of commitments under the water and sewerage programme, I cannot say when it may be possible to advance the scheme.