Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Feb 1997

Vol. 474 No. 4

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Joe Jacob

Question:

106 Mr. Jacob asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concern at the delay in proceeding with the Arklow main drainage scheme; if he will issue approval to the urban district council as a matter of urgency to proceed to the next stage of this project and prepare tender documents; if his attention has further been drawn to (1) the fact that this delay is preventing commercial and residential development in the town, (2) the hardship and health hazards which continue to prevail as a result of the council's inability to proceed with this project and (3) the detrimental effect of the smell of raw sewage on the town's tourism industry, particularly during the peak summer season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3199/97]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

In the summer of last year, I gave approval to the urban district council to carry out marine site investigations, the results of which were received in my Department in November 1996. Examination of the preliminary report for the scheme is now proceeding and I hope to be able to make a decision on the matter in the near future. The scheme is also the subject of an application for Cohesion Fund assistance, made to the European Commission in June 1996, and which has not yet been approved.