I propose to share my time with Senator Mullooly.
Adjournment Matter. - Roscommon Water Supply Scheme.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
An application for the Ballagh-Ballybeg group water scheme has been with the Department of the Environment since 1993 to construct approximately 14 miles of a mains that would service the main line that would replace these two originally proposed water schemes. The mains would provide for approximately 200 connections between houses and farms and would also service four schools. Many smaller group schemes need to be constructed off this mains but they cannot proceed without the sanction and construction of the mains pipe.
The two schemes, now combined, will service a mostly rural area south-east of Strokestown, covering the rural Ballybeg and Ballagh areas. However, the Ballagh portion of the scheme cannot proceed without the Ballybeg scheme being in place. It was logical to put a new proposal to the Department for a mains to enable the smaller group schemes to proceed. Roscommon County Council adopted this proposal in 1993 and the people of the area accepted that it was a good one. The scheme will link to the north eastern regional water scheme at Ballyfeeney and will service both schemes.
Unfortunately, to date, these schemes have not been cleared by the Department of the Environment. I hope the Minister of State will be in a position to give a positive response to those who have been awaiting a water supply for many years. The original proposals were put on hold because of other developments regarding water in the county. If matters had been left to the people ten years ago they would have installed their own water supplies. However, following consultation between the local authority and the Department it was decided not to proceed on this basis as the area was to be included in an overall plan. The people have suffered in consequence, although they appreciate that the plan is in their best interests, provided it is not left on the long finger.
People in the area now want the necessary funds — £1.25 million — to be provided to allow Roscommon County Council to go to tender on this scheme and have it constructed in 1996. A delegation comprising of local council members and Oireachtas Members met the Minister for the Environment some months ago. He was very positive but unfortunately an announcement has not been made. The people are sceptical and worried that the scheme will not be funded in 1996.
Will the Minister of State indicate to my colleague, Senator Mulloolly, who is a councillor for most of the area in question, and me that the scheme is sanctioned to proceed this year? Even if it is sanctioned now construction will take many months. The Roscommon County Council county engineer has informed me that within a matter of weeks he will be in a position to start pipe laying if he gets the sanction to proceed from the Department and the Minister. He is well briefed on the scheme and he has already forwarded the information to the Department.
I hope the Minister will be in a position to indicate to the people of Ballagh and Ballybeg, a sprawling rural area between Roscommon town and Strokestown, that the scheme will go ahead. While it is in progress, they can start to organise small group schemes. I thank the Minister for coming to the House to respond to this matter and I hope I and my colleague, Senator Mullooly, will be able to bring back good news to the people of the area.
I thank Senator Finneran for sharing his time and the Minister for coming to the House to respond to this matter, which is important to the people of the area. This large rural area in County Roscommon has no public water supply. Eventually, approximately 200 houses, over 80 farms and three schools in the area will be served by a water supply. It is referred to as the Ballagh/Ballybeg scheme because the original proposal was to service the area by means of two separate group water schemes. The Ballybeg scheme dates back to 1980 and the Ballagh scheme to 1990.
Following the construction of the north-east Roscommon regional supply scheme, it was agreed by Roscommon County Council and the Department of the Environment that the source for the Ballagh/Ballybeg areas would be the reservoir at Ballyfeeney. As Senator Finneran pointed out, the Ballagh scheme is, in effect, an extension of the Ballybeg scheme. Given the high cost involved in increasing the pipe size, etc., Roscommon County Council in 1993 decided to construct the main pipeline through both schemes as a public scheme. Proposals for this work were prepared, costed and submitted to the Department of the Environment in late 1993.
Some months later a request was received from the Department of the Environment for additional data. This was supplied but since then all inquiries have elicited the same response, that the matter is under examination in the Department. As Senator Finneran said, a delegation from the area met the Minister for the Environment some months ago. The meeting was positive and the Minister gave the delegation reason to believe there would be a positive response in the near future. We hope the Minister of State has that response today. Having paid their money many years ago, the people feel they are entitled to know the precise situation and when the water supply scheme will come to fruition in the area. I urge the Minister to indicate that approval will be forthcoming to Roscommon County Council to proceed with the construction of the main pipeline so the area can be serviced with a public water supply.
I thank the Senators for raising this matter. The Department is aware of the difficulties in relation to this scheme and of the deep concern locally that a satisfactory water supply should be provided at the earliest opportunity.
County Roscommon is benefiting fully from the large programme of investment in water and sewerage schemes which is supported by the EU Cohesion and Structural Funds. The Senators will be aware that a number of major water and sewerage projects in the county have been prioritised for investment under the Cohesion Fund. Two major lake catchment schemes in Lough Derg and Lough Ree are aimed at eliminating organic pollution of the lakes and the principal inflowing rivers through the provision of new and upgraded sewage collection and treatment systems at the main population centres and the development of a comprehensive monitoring programme for the management of both catchments.
Within these catchments, cohesion funding has been sought for new and improved services at Monksland, Boyle, Ballaghadereen, Tarmonbarry and Roscommon town at a total cost of over £10 million. The Minister recently announced the approval of the Monksland scheme and further positive announcements on a number of the other projects may be expected soon.
Regarding water supply projects, the construction of stage one of the Boyle/Ardcarne water supply scheme, costing approximately £3 million, was approved earlier this year. Work is well underway and the scheme will be substantially completed later this year. A proposal for the provision of new water treatment facilities at Ballyleague, at a cost of over £100,000, was also approved under the small schemes programme.
Roscommon County Council has submitted proposals for an expansion of the public water supply network to serve the north and east of the county. A preliminary report has been received for a project to serve the Ballagh and Ballybeg areas in addition to other villages in the region. Up to 100 households in this area depend on private individual supplies, many of which are subject to quality and quantity variation. These householders proposed to extend the public supply by way of a group scheme. However, given that the design for the council scheme required the laying of a ten inch trunk main, Roscommon County Council and the Department concluded that the task of constructing this main would be beyond the resources of the group scheme and could only be carried out by the council. The cost of laying that part of the trunk main as far as Ballagh/Ballybeg is of the order of £1.2 million. This main would directly serve the majority of households in the area of the proposed group scheme. The remaining households would then be served by way of group scheme connections.
Senators are aware that the Minister has approved some 50 projects to commence construction under the water and sewerage capital works programme for 1996. The full cost of these projects is estimated at over £200 million. Having regard to the existing high level of commitments with regard to these projects, unfortunately it is not possible at this time to approve the Ballagh/Ballybeg scheme. The council's proposal will be given due consideration in the context of the capital works programme for 1997.
The Minister said "due consideration" but I hoped he would say "favourable consideration" in the context of the capital works programme for 1997.
I give every man his due.
The Seanad adjourned at 3.50 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 July 1996.