There is an urgent need for the Minister of the Environment and Local Government to provide an additional block grant to Clare County Council for the rural water programme. This is essential so that the group water schemes that have prepared detailed designs and drawings under the council's guidance can proceed to construction to overcome problems of poor water quality, poor water air supply, low pressure and defective piping. The importance of this is beyond question. I refer particularly to those group water schemes that are ready to go to construction.
A number of households throughout Clare have been badly affected by lack of water supply, particularly in isolated rural areas. Many of them are involved in farming and as a result dairy herds are affected and quality of production is undermined.
Many women are finding it difficult to undertake ordinary household duties because of lack of water supply. The Government has strongly promoted the concept of rural tourism, but this cannot proceed if the basic essentials, such as a supply of water, are not available. Tourism is affected because of the inadequacy of the water supply. More importantly, planning permissions are being refused repeatedly by Clare County Council because of the inadequate water supply in areas of the county. It is incredible in this day and age, with such a buoyant economy, that these basic essentials are preventing development in rural Ireland, particularly by young couples trying to build homes.
The situation is disastrous and seriously needs to be addressed by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. This year, Clare County Council received an allocation of €2.75 million, a drop of 25% on last year, given inflation, which is completely unacceptable. It is particularly unacceptable given that a large num ber of group water schemes are ready to go to tender and are just awaiting funding. This is the case with Quilty, Clohanes, Leadmore, Corbally, Doonaha East, Cree Clonwhite, Kilcredawn, Rathfolan, Ballaghboy, Legard South, Cahersherkin, Breffa South, Ballinagaddy and Fanore. The total cost of these would be €7,369,500, so there is a shortfall of €4,619,500 in the block allocation from the Minister of the Environment and Local Government to Clare County Council, which is a huge deficit in relative terms. There is an urgent need for the Minister to revisit this allocation and to see the totally inadequacy of it.
I note the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, is yet again taking the Adjournment debate. I appeal to the Minister to use her not inconsiderable persuasive powers with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, to ensure that this matter is looked at within the Department. Additional funding must be provided to allow basic development to proceed in County Clare. Such funding would facilitate the ordinary daily business of householders, farmers and people in the tourism industry.
I thank the Cathaoirleach for affording me the opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment.
