asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present position concerning the provision of a group water scheme at Termon, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
80.
The design of this scheme has been approved by the local authority. The pipe suppliers have submitted a quotation to the group and two local contractors have been asked to quote for excavation and main laying.
81.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the long delay in carrying out the group water scheme in Bally-williams-Ballyboy, Kilcormac, County Offaly, which has been under consideration for three years; and if he will approve the plans and sanction the commencement of work in view of the urgency of this proposal.
As I indicated to the Deputy on 19th February, 1969, there has been no unnecessary delay in carrying out this scheme. The members of the group have recently developed a dug well and are now testing the yield of this source. If the outcome of the test is satisfactory, a design for the scheme will be put in hands.
82.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position in regard to the group water supply scheme for Ballicknahee, Clara, County Offaly; if he is aware of the urgency of this scheme in view of the lack of water for domestic use among the local householders; and if he will have the work undertaken immediately.
The proposal to from a group scheme to serve Kilbride and surrounding areas, including Ballicknahee, was abandoned at a meeting of the participants held on 6th October, 1969.
83.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the delay in his Department in giving sanction for the group water scheme for Derryguile, Mountmellick, County Laois; and if work may now be commenced.
I informed the Deputy in reply to a previous question on 19th February last that the cost of this scheme would be excessive unless a supply of water could be obtained from the public main. Since then Laois County Council have indicated that the scheme cannot be supplied from the Mountmellick town supply. In the circumstances the group scheme cannot proceed at this stage.
84.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received a proposal from Meath County Council to extend Navan water supply to Windtown and Boyne Road; and, if so, if the proposal has been sanctioned by him.
I have already approved Meath County Council's preliminary proposals for the first stage development of the An Uaimh water supply scheme, including extensions to Boyne Road and Windtown. The council's recent request for approval to proceed with the Boyne Road and Windtown extensions in advance of the main scheme is being examined in my Department.
85.
asked the Minister for Local Government when work will commence on the water supply scheme in Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois.
I have approved the appointment of a consulting engineer to prepare preliminary proposals for a water supply scheme for Borris-in-Ossory.
86.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will now sanction contract documents submitted to him by Donegal County Council on the 3rd October 1968 for the Loughfad-Portnoo water supply.
On the latest information available to me this scheme is not regarded by Donegal County Council as having a high priority in their water and sewerage programme.
87.
asked the Minister for Local Government why sanction is not forthcoming for the regional water scheme at Listowel, County Kerry; and if pending its commencement he is prepared to consider a smaller scheme in respect of Ballybunion.
On the latest information available to me the local authority do not regard the Listowel water supply scheme as having a high priority on their public water supply programme. There are no proposals before my Department for a separate water supply scheme for Ballybunion.
88.
asked the Minister for Local Government why sanction is not forthcoming for the proposed water extension from Ardcarne No. 2 Scheme to Cortober, County Roscommon in view of the fact that the scheme has been with his Department since December, 1968.
I have asked the local authority to furnish additional technical information and also to reconsider certain technical aspects of the Ard-carne/Cootehall water supply scheme No. 2. There are no proposals before my Department for a water supply extension to serve Cortober.
89.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the stage is being reached when applications for supply of water in the entire area from Drumcar, Dunleer North to Dundalk, County Louth may have to be refused because of the delay in carrying out the Blackrock-Castle-bellingham head works and capacity increase scheme; what is the position in relation to this project; when application for sanction of this scheme was received by his Department; and when sanction may be expected.
Having regard to the necessity to conserve available capital for housing and other essential services, only those sanitary services schemes of the highest priority can be allowed to proceed at present. Other priority schemes in County Louth must take precedence over the scheme referred to by the Deputy, preliminary proposals for which were submitted to my Department in September, 1966.
Is the Minister aware that connections at the moment are restricted to water for human use only on the line from Carnlough to Dundalk, and is he further aware that officials of the county council have indicated to the county council members that new connections may not be possible in the near future? Would the Minister not regard this as an absolute priority?
The county council have not submitted a priority list for the overall Louth area and there appear to be other more urgent schemes which must take precedence over this one.
This seems to be very bad policy.
It was not the highest priority on the list of Louth County Council. Everything cannot be done at the same time.
Are we as broke as all that?
90.
asked the Minister for Local Government why tenders for the first stage of the Drogheda water augmentation scheme submitted to the Department in August have not as yet been sanctioned; if he is aware that the Drogheda water shortage is so acute that some citizens have no water supply at all to their homes; and if he will immediately sanction the first stage of the augmentation scheme.
The first stage of the Drogheda water supply augmentation scheme is completed and in operation. Tenders for the pumping plant in connection with stage 2 were approved by me on 21st March, 1968. Tenders for civil works which were submitted to my Department on 11th August, 1969 are under consideration and I expect to issue a decision thereon shortly.
Is the Minister aware that householders in Drogheda have no water supply because of the fact that there is not enough pressure to drive the water through area which are on higher ground? Is he further aware that water is cut off at night and that Barnathan reservoir, which is the main supply for the north end of the town, is absolutely dry? Will he not, then, get this pumping station sanctioned immediately?
There are water supply difficulties in many places at present because of——
But Drogheda is the worst hit.
It may be the worst in Louth but not in the whole country.
91.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position in regard to the extension of the water main and the sewerage scheme at Banagher, County Offaly; if he is aware of the great urgency of this matter; and what steps he will take in conjunction with the local authority to have this matter disposed of satisfactorily.
Revised preliminary proposals for the Banagher water supply improvement scheme were received in my Department on the 18th ultimo and are being considered. I have approved contract documents for the Banagher sewerage scheme and tenders for this work which were received in my Department on 17th October, 1969, are also being examined.