Thank you for giving me an opportunity to raise this very important matter concerning the sewerage systems in Schull and Baltimore in south-west Cork.
Schull is a progressive seaside resort that relies mainly on tourism and fishing. Several holiday complexes have been built in the area in recent years. The current sewerage system is outdated and not capable of catering for the huge influx of visitors to the town and its hinterland each year. Furthermore, the condition of the sewerage system does not comply with EU standards. The farming community, shopkeepers and all other businesses are told they must adapt to EU standards, but the Minister for the Environment and Local Government appears to be immune from those standards when it comes to allocating money to bring sewerage systems up to EU standards.
Baltimore, which is also an important tourist resort and fishing harbour, has an old and outdated sewerage system. As a Cork man, the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, is well known in Baltimore and Schull. He often goes there on holiday. I hope he is the harbinger of good news tonight.
Cork County Council and local development committees cannot understand why the Minister and his Department have ignored the request for approval from Cork County Council to employ consulting engineers to design a suitable sewerage scheme for both areas. The original request in each case was made by the council on 3 April 1991. Seven years later we do not have approval from the Department.
We are told tourism will be our greatest industry when we enter the new millennium. Let us create the infrastructure to cater for that upsurge in tourism. The Minister, Deputy O'Rourke, referred in a jocose manner to the Celtic tiger. It should be called the "Celtic leopard" because the prosperity hits in spots, in Limerick, Dublin and Galway. I suppose we must excuse the Government for wanting to pump money into Limerick and Dublin.
Does the Minister of State agree that a seven year waiting period for approval to employ consulting engineers to design two suitable sewerage schemes is acceptable for two internationally renowned tourism centres? We certainly need our share of the cake in south west Cork. According to the Constitution all citizens should be cherished equally but apparently there are favourites in certain areas. What is the reason for the Minister's delay in issuing approval to Cork County Council to start the ball rolling in those two schemes?
I was informed recently by the Minister that given the high level of commitment under the water and sewerage investment programme he could not say when they would be approved. That is why I am raising the matter on the Adjournment. I do not understand why it takes seven years for the Minister to make up his mind. The time has come when justice must prevail. I ask the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government and as a fellow Cork man to give favourable consideration to my request on behalf of two of the most important tourist resorts.
