A Chathaoirligh, I thank you for allowing this motion and I thank the Minister for attending. This Adjournment Matter relates to an area outside Letterkenny nicknamed the Lagan Desert due to the fact that it does not have any piped water supply. At the moment there are 2,500 people living there. Some 29 years ago Donegal County Council first promised a running water supply, yet to date nothing has happened to relieve the water problem in the Manorcunningham and St. Johnstown areas. In warm weather the school's well water dries up and the county council has to send in tankers to supply water for toilets and wash-hand basins in the school. It is disgraceful that people should have to endure such conditions.
It is envisged that the Lough Mourne scheme will solve the Lagan Desert problem but the scheme requires funding of approximately £5 million by current estimates. The regional plan for the EC Cohesion Fund over the next four to five years includes provision for this scheme but there is no indication as to whether it will be undertaken. I ask that this issue be given priority as it is a heartbreaking problem for residents of the area. Despite complaining and demonstrating for a number of years, they seem to have been ignored disgracefully by everyone.
At the moment the people of Manorcunningham, living on two fairly large housing estates, get their running water from a stream outside the town. On numerous occasions the water has been cut off, preventing people from using water for domestic and home heating purposes. On one occasion four or five months ago the stream was polluted by silage effluent. The water supply was cut off immediately leaving the people high and dry on a winter's evening and it remained off until the water was declared usable again. The water is brown in colour and people are advised to boil it before use. I ask the Minister to ensure that the Lough Mourne scheme is started as a matter of priority to provide water for people living in the area known as the Lagan Desert.
