asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the water supply to the town of Elphin has been condemned by the public analyst as being unfit for human use, and what steps, if any, he intends to take to ensure that the people get a proper healthy supply.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ELPHIN WATER SUPPLY.
The present water supplies have been reported on by the analyst as unfit for use. A water supply scheme, at an estimated cost of £3,500, has been prepared and submitted to the Board of Health, the amount to be raised by means of borrowing. The Board of Health desired to confine the area of charge to the town of Elphin, but in July last the Department drew their attention to the statutory limitations upon borrowing by sanitary authorities laid down in Section 238 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, which enacts that the sum borrowed shall not at any time exceed, with the balances of all the outstanding loans contracted by the sanitary authority for sanitary purposes, twice the net annual value of the premises assessable within the district in respect of which the loan is raised. The Department pointed out to the Board, at the same time, that a smaller area of charge than the Elphin Dispensary District would not satisfy statutory requirements. On the 10th instant, in reply to a reminder from the Department, the Board of Health intimated that the Department's letter of July had yet to be considered by the Board. A further letter is being issued to them in the ordinary course asking that the matter be reconsidered at an early date.
In view of the reluctance of the Board to fix the area of charge, would the Minister give an undertaking that the area would be fixed as soon as possible?
I do not know what exactly my authority would be as regards fixing the area of charge. I know that there are very serious difficulties before anybody who attempts to fix the area of charge in this case, and I could not give an undertaking at the moment as to what my action would be if there were further delay. The difficulties, as I say, are great.
Would the Minister be prepared to recommend a grant in aid?
I would want notice of that question.
Would the Minister be prepared to reconsider the Act of 1878, which might possibly be out of harmony with modern requirements; and would he consider the possibility of bringing in an amending Bill?
I believe that the problem is one that will require consideration, but I could not undertake to say on what lines, or even when, consideration might be given to it just now.