I welcome the Minister to the House. I want to draw attention to the need for the Minister for the Environment to inform Seanad Éireann if, and when, he intends to provide funding for the construction of a feeder main for the Ballagh-Ballybeg water scheme in County Roscommon. This is not the first time I have raised this matter in the Seanad and I would like to outline a brief history of the position of the Ballagh-Ballybeg water scheme. The people in these two areas have been seeking a public water supply for more than ten years.
Roscommon County Council, after consultation with the Department of the Environment, decided to attempt to have part of the scheme funded on a capital basis. In 1993 an application was submitted to the Department seeking departmental approval and funding for a 14 mile feeder main which would allow the groups involved to complete the scheme. That application was lodged with the Department in 1993 having been approved by Roscommon County Council and having been costed by them. Plans and specifications were drawn up and sent to the Department and £1.1 million was sought for the construction of the scheme.
Senator Mullooly and I tabled a motion in the Seanad some 12 months ago requesting that the funding be provided. At that time the Minister indicated that money was not available in 1996 and that the matter would be considered in 1997. A delegation from the area, together with the county engineer, met with the Minister for the Environment a year ago and I understand that the Minister inquired then when the council would be in a position to proceed with the scheme. The interpretation the delegation took from that was that they had received a favourable hearing and that there would be clearance given for the scheme. Unfortunately nothing has happened and no funding has been made available.
A public meeting was held in Ballybeg last Monday night and the people concerned — there are some 200 connections involved — asked that this matter be raised again and that pressure be put on public representatives to obtain sanction for the £1.1 million feeder main. Senator Mullooly and I undertook to raise the matter in the Seanad. I do not need to explain the difficulties which the people in those areas experience. At a time when it is generally considered in Europe that Ireland has made huge advances, it is extraordinary that an entire section of the countryside, from just outside Roscommon town as far as the Shannon, does not have a public water supply in 1997. These people have been trying to get a public water supply for more than ten years, and that is, to some extent, an indictment of all the powers that be at council and Government level.
Since 1993 when the new application for the feeder main was submitted, there was no option but to fund the scheme on a capital basis. Three years have passed since that application was made and I ask the Minister to indicate to Roscommon County Council that the money will be provided for this scheme in 1997. I am sure that not all of the money will have to be spent in 1997 given that 14 miles of pipe must be laid. I am requesting that an allocation be made to start the scheme otherwise these people will be left for another year without a public water supply. Even when the main is in place, they will still have to organise themselves throughout the little villages along the course of the main in order to complete the scheme. I am asking that the Minister give the go ahead and allocate money for this scheme which is number one on the priority list of Roscommon County Council.
