asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether recent investigations have been carried out regarding the purity and suitability for human consumption of the water supply in the Aran Islands and what steps have been taken by the local authority to ensure that the health interests of the islanders would be expeditiously safeguarded.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aran Islands Water Supplies.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (i) the findings of the report on the following wells on Aran Islands, viz. (a) Tobar Gort na Muice; (b) Tobar an Bhaile Thiar; (c) Tobar Seán Eileen; (d) Tobar an Clochain; (e) Tobar Tomas Poil; (ii) when this report was made available to the county manager; (iii) what action was taken by the county manager and the dates of such action to protect the health and lives of the people of Aran in view of the findings of this report, and (iv) if it is the intention of the Minister to take any action in the matter.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.
I understand that the Galway County Medical Officer carried out an inspection in September last and found that, apart from neglect of maintenance, supplies were in many cases subject to serious contamination. I have not seen the whole report and cannot say what individual reports were made by the county medical officer on the particular wells referred to by the Deputy. The report was received by the local authority on 15th November last and referred by the county manager to the county engineer on the 10th December. I understand that, in compliance with the county medical officer's recommendations, warning notices have been posted at certain wells to the effect that the water should not be used for human consumption and that an engineer is to visit the islands shortly to examine the questions of the repair of the wells and the improvement of the supplies.