Vol. 523 No. 1
711 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current status of the proposal to extend the regional water scheme from Lough Mask to Shrule, Kilmaine, Cross and the Neale, County Mayo; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that individ ual planning permissions are now being refused in these locations due to inadequate water supplies; the plans he has to remedy this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20550/00]
Contract documents for the extension of the Lough Mask regional water supply scheme to Kilmaine and Shrule were submitted to my Department in 1987 but have not been approved. This scheme was thirteenth on the list of water schemes submitted by Mayo County Council in response to my Department's request to local authorities to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of the assessment. The priority lists were taken into account in the framing of the water services investment programme, 2000-02 announced in July. Given the priority rating afforded to the scheme by the council, the level of competing demand and the funding available, it was not possible to include it in the programme at that time.
In relation to Cross and the Neale, I understand Mayo County Council is considering water schemes for these areas under the devolved small schemes programme.
