asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the steps being taken by the Office of Public Works to ensure that the watermain to Haulbowline island is safe from further breakages; if he is aware (a) that fifteen months ago it was made clear that the present watermain was completely broken down, and that a new watermain was essential to preserve the livelihoods of six hundred workers engaged in the steel industry on the island, and (b) that the watermain again burst within the past fortnight; if his Department have yet started to lay the new watermain; and, if not, whether in view of the extreme urgency of the matter, he will ensure that there is no further delay in starting the work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Watermain to Haulbowline Island.
19.
The Office of Public Works are making an engineering examination to determine whether replacement of the submarine watermain or major repair is the better course. I can assure the Deputy that there will be no avoidable delay in proceeding with the work. Meanwhile, the maintenance of the existing main is being attended to by the Department of Defence.