asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the Westmeath Board of Health and Public Assistance have adopted a scheme for the improvement of the water supply of Mullingar at an estimated cost of £8,000; that the application of the Board of Health for sanction to the raising of a loan has not been acceded to owing to the present margin of borrowing in respect of the proposed area of charge not permitting of the raising of a further loan of the amount required; and if he will state what steps he will take to enable the work to be proceeded with as the health of the inhabitants of the town is gravely imperilled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mullingar Water Supply.
An application for a loan of the amount stated has been received from the Westmeath Board of Health and Public Assistance. The limit of borrowing under the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, is fixed at twice the net annual valuation of the premises assessable within the area of charge, which, in the present case, is the town of Mullingar. Existing indebtedness under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts has to be reckoned for the purposes of the limit on borrowing imposed by the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878. I hope to avail of an early opportunity to introduce legislation removing outside that limit loans raised for the purposes of the Labourers Acts.
Can the contract be advertised pending the passing of the necessary legislation? The matter is very urgent.
This matter has been under consideration for some time, and we are in the position that certain places like Mullingar and Balbriggan that want to get ahead with waterworks and sewerage works are estopped from doing it by reason of the height of their loan charges. It is desirable that additional housing schemes should not be gone ahead with where there are not proper water supplies or proper sanitary arrangements. There appears to be no reason why there should be differentiation between an urban district and a district like Mullingar or Balbriggan in making charges in respect of houses which come within the sum that has to be taken into consideration as their loans charges when dealing with public health works. I would like to give the House an opportunity of examining the position, and if it were possible to get agreement on the matter, I would like to introduce legislation before the summer. But further than that, I am not in a position to reply to the Deputy in the matter, and I do not think it would be desirable that any action should be taken until legislation had been passed.