Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 4

Written Answers - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Willie Penrose

Question:

214 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the serious situation in relation to the provision of an adequate and reliable water supply for the town of Moate, County Westmeath and its environs, he will take immediate steps to accelerate the provision of a permanent solution which involves a new intake from the River Shannon upstream of the new water treatment plant, and the associated pipelines and reservoirs to service Athlone environs, Moate, Tang, Glasson, Drumraney and other areas of south County Westmeath; when this permanent solution to this situation is likely to be put in place; the costs of this permanent solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13022/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Stage 1 of the south Westmeath regional water supply scheme, estimated to cost £9 million, which will in the first instance address the supply problems in Athlone and its immediate environs, is included in the 2000 to 2002 Water Services Investment Programme as a scheme to be progressed through planning.

Further stages of the scheme to service Moate, and in due course Tang, Glasson, Drumraney and other areas of south Westmeath can only be progressed after Stage 1 has been completed.

In the meantime, Westmeath County Council has sought to implement interim solutions for Moate, the first of which involved the augmentation of the supply from a groundwater source at Knockdomney. This was commissioned late last year under the small schemes programme. A report on further possible interim sources was received by my Department from the council last month. The report is being examined and a response will issue to the Council as soon as possible.

Dan Neville

Question:

215 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the results of the rural water source monitoring programme of group water schemes in County Limerick. [13023/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The source monitoring programme being undertaken by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee commenced in September 2000 and is intended to run for a 12 month period. Sampling was suspended as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak but is expected to resume shortly. The committee will make the results available, through the local authorities, to all relevant group schemes as soon as the sampling programme is completed and the results collated. Interim results for the period up to February 2001 have been notified to local authorities.