asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make available a grant from the National Development Fund towards the cost of providing a public water supply for the Fanad peninsula, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Water Supply Schemes.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make available a grant towards the cost of providing a regional water supply for the Fanad Gaeltacht, County Donegal.
asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present position in regard to the Rossnakill-Tamney water supply scheme.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, it is proposed to take Questions Nos. 45, 46 and 47 together.
Proposals for a water supply scheme for Rossnakill and Tamney were submitted by Donegal County Council in 1940 and resubmitted in 1947, but, because of the inadequacy of the source, were not approved. Subsequently a number of other possible sources were investigated and the county engineer's report was considered by the county council last December. A copy of this report was not received in the Department until yesterday, but an inquiry was received from the county council on the 20th January as to the amount of State assistance which would be made available for a regional scheme for North Fanad. Such a scheme would also serve Rossnakill. The maximum rate of subsidy by way of contribution to loan charges in respect of Gaeltacht water supply schemes is 43? per cent., but consideration is at present being given to the representations made by the county council that Gaeltacht water supply schemes should be subsidised at a higher rate, whether from the National Development Fund or otherwise.
Am I to take it that, until the Local Government Department, arising from these questions, got in touch with the local authority in Donegal, no report whatever was received from these people in regard to this matter, although decisions were arrived at last December by the Donegal County Council?
When the Deputy reads the reply carefully he will see that the Department could do nothing more at the moment.
I am not asking the Parliamentary Secretary about the Department. I am merely asking him to say whether or not it is a fact that from his reply it can be taken that no report whatever was received from the Donegal County Council officials in connection with this matter until the Department of Local Government got in touch with the Donegal County Council during the past week arising from these questions I have put down?
When the Deputy, if I may say so, without disrespect, reads carefully the lengthy reply I have given him, he can, as a member of the Donegal County Council, come to his own conclusions.
Further arising from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I have asked him a specific question dealing with three questions on the Order Paper. He has evaded that issue in every way. It is not a question of reading, and with your permission, I would like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I suspected the Deputy was going to do that, anyway.
I will communicate with the Deputy.