asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that in view of the increased size of pipe now demanded by Kerry County Council to be used in the proposed Kerries, Clogherbrien group water scheme, the cost of the scheme has increased by £2,500; and, if so, if he will now consider making a grant to meet this cost so that the scheme can be implemented.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
32.
A proposal by Kerry County Council to contribute £2,500 to this group to meet the cost of larger pipe sizes was approved by me on 16th May, 1968, that is, over a month ago.
33.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that in view of the inadequate water supply available at Ardfert, County Kerry, the local authority have to utilise the services of the fire brigade from time to time to flush the new sewerage scheme implemented in the district some years ago; and, if so, if he will now arrange to allocate to the county council the £50,000 required to start work on the first stage of the proposed new scheme.
There is no change in the position since my reply to the Deputy's question of 21st March last when I stated that a decision on the Ardfert regional water supply scheme must await the outcome of the review of regional schemes which is being carried out by sanitary authorities generally throughout the country.
Can the Minister tell us when he intends this review will take place? I have been getting this answer over the past year and a half or two years.
It should be finished soon. We are still awaiting a priority list from the local authority.
When the Minister says "soon", does he mean one month or six months?
That depends on the local authority.
Is it not true that the Minister has not got the money? This same answer has been given on other occasions, instead of telling the truth to the House and the country, that the money is not available.
That is a separate question.
I have not got unlimited money. It would be very foolish to say unlimited money was available. Neither is there unlimited capacity available in the industry to do this work.
When Deputy Blaney was Minister for Social Welfare he blamed the local authorities for not sending up schemes.
They were complaining last week that there were no contractors available to do the work.
The Minister has driven them out of the country.
34.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction in the near future proposals for the Achill water supply, as requested by Mayo County Council.
There is no change in the position regarding the Achill regional water supply scheme since my reply to the Deputy's question of 6th February last when I stated that a decision on this scheme must await the outcome of the review of regional water supply schemes which is being carried out by sanitary authorities throughout the country.
Does the Minister not realise that the same type of answer has been given over the past five years to questions of this kind? Will he give us some hope? I am sick of putting down this question.
The position is the same.
We will have stagnation so long as Fianna Fáil are there.
I will give Deputy L'Estrange a list of the work proceeding any time he likes.
35.
asked the Minister for Local Government when it is proposed to start the water and sewerage scheme in Clarenbridge, County Galway.
There are no proposals before my Department for a sewerage scheme for Clarenbridge.
A decision on the Clarenbridge/Kil-colgan water supply scheme must await the outcome of the review of water and sewerage schemes in planning which is being carried out by sanitary authorities throughout the country.
36.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will now approve the preliminary report on the Dunkineely sewerage scheme submitted to him by Donegal County Council on 7th February, 1966.
A decision on the preliminary report for the Dunkineely sewerage scheme must await the outcome of the review of water and sewerage schemes which is being carried out by sanitary authorities generally throughout the country.
Surely it does not take a year and a half to sanction a preliminary report on this scheme for a tourist centre such as Dunkineely? Is there any hope of getting any sanction at any time in the immediate future for this sewerage scheme?
The scheme does not even appear on the recent list of priorities submitted by Donegal County Council.
That is not what the Minister for Social Welfare tells the people of his home town, Dunkineely.
37.
asked the Minister for Local Government when work is likely to commence on the sewerage scheme for Ballingarry, County Tipperary.
Revised preliminary proposals for Ballingarry sewerage scheme were approved by me on 7th July, 1967. No further documents for the scheme have been received from Tipperary (SR) County Council to-date. I am not, therefore, in a position to say when work is likely to commence.
38.
asked the Minister for Local Government when work is likely to commence on the sewerage scheme for Killenaule, County Tipperary.
As I informed the Deputy on 9th May last I have fully approved this scheme and have sanctioned a loan to finance it. It is now a matter for the sanitary authority to arrange for the execution of the work.
39.
asked the Minister for Local Government when work is likely to commence on the sewerage scheme for New Inn, County Tipperary.
The proposal of Tipperary (SR) County Council for the appointment of a consulting engineer to prepare a sewerage scheme for New Inn was approved by my Department some years ago. No further proposals have been submitted to the Department to-date.
40.
asked the Minister for Local Government the cause of the delay in sanctioning the application of Dublin County Council to lay a sewer at Kilbogget Tiphead, Cabinteely, County Dublin.
There has been no delay in my Department in dealing with this scheme, contract documents for which have been under examination. I expect to be in a position to convey a decision thereon shortly.
How short is shortly?
Soon: I do not know. It will not be too long though.