asked the Minister for Local Government if he will give a decision in regard to the group water supply scheme for The Swan, Wolfhill. County Laois, in view of the urgency of the scheme and the fact that Laois County Council are anxious to have work undertaken without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
79.
Contract documents for the scheme being planned by the Laois County Council, under which a supply will be provided for this group, are under consideration in my Department.
80.
asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory state of the water supply for families at Saint Cormac's Park, Kilcormac, County Offaly; and if he will take steps to remedy the matter.
An improvement scheme approved by me some time ago and which will, I understand, get under way very shortly, will augment the Kilcormac water supply and make good any deficiencies in the supply at Saint Cormac's Park.
81.
asked the Minister for Local Government the up-to-date position concerning the group water scheme at Dooish, Ballybofey, County Donegal.
The design for this scheme has been approved by my Department and Donegal County Council. The approval is subject to the use of increased pipe sizes to enable the scheme to be integrated with the council's regional scheme. The question of seeking a special contribution from the county council towards the additional cost involved is being examined in my Department.
82.
asked the Minister for Local Government the up-to-date position concerning the group water scheme at Churchill, County Donegal.
The design of this scheme has been approved by my Department and Donegal County Council. The water will require treatment to ensure a satisfactory quality and the type of treatment required is being examined. When this has been cleared the group can seek quotations to enable costings to be determined.
83.
asked the Minister for Local Government what steps are contemplated to augment the Letterkenny water supply, County Donegal.
I have approved in principle a scheme to utilise Lough Keel as a supplementary source for Letterkenny water supply. In addition, I have approved of the preparation of contract documents for an advance section of the scheme which will provide a supplemental supply for Letterkenny and serve development at Ballyraine.
Has the Minister any idea when any of these improvements might become effective?
I could not give the Deputy any specific indication of the date for commencing work at this stage.
I take it that from the stage it has now reached it is quite likely to be a couple of years in the normal process? I am wondering whether, if such a lapse of time is required, the developments at Ballyraine will be provided with any quantity of water. That advance factory is being built and it may be that its use may be restricted very severely and, indeed, will be restricted unless a water supply is available in the very near future.
The Deputy is taking a very pessimistic view of the progress of this scheme. He can take it from me that it will advance much more rapidly than that. It is being treated as an urgent matter and it is being given some priority in my Department.
Will it be less than two years?
The Minister, of course, cannot specify any period of time except to indicate that the matter will be dealt with expeditiously.
84.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the continued delay in sanctioning the scheme for pumps submitted by Westmeath County Council to his Department in October, 1971.
I approved the provision of pumps by Westmeath County Council at a number of locations in the county on the 1st May last.
85.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the Ballintarmor, Annascaul group water scheme, County Kerry.
Work recently commenced on this scheme. Thirty-five grants of £100 each were allocated to the group on 25th May, 1972, and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries were notified of the costings so that they could decide what financial assistance, if any, they would make to the group.
86.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of County Waterford (i) the number of (a) minor water schemes and (b) group water schemes with his Department; (ii) when each scheme was received by his Department; (iii) the reason for the delay in giving sanction in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Twenty-three "minor" water schemes submitted by Waterford County Council have been approved by me since January last. The value of these schemes is £51,000. A remaining group of nine proposals submitted by the county council at various dates between April, 1970, and March, 1971, have not been approved by me. Eight of these schemes, ranging in cost between £100 and £700, are of the type which it was indicated to the local authority on the 8th February last, should not be a charge on the public capital programme. The one remaining scheme is under consideration in my Department.
With regard to group schemes I am having this information complied and will have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
87.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the delay in permitting group schemes to proceed from the Dundrum regional supply, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Dundrum and Clonoulty group water supply schemes are the only schemes before my Department to be served from the Dundrum regional water supply scheme. I am not aware of any avoidable delay in respect of these schemes. As indicated in my reply to Question No. 80 on 24th February last, the integrated design for the Dundrum and Clonoulty group water supply schemes caters for more than 500 houses, covering more than 80 miles of pipeline. In view of the magnitude of the joint project, detailed examination of the design was essential. The design has been informally approved by my Department and Tipperary (SR) County Council, subject to the use of increased pipe sizes to enable the schemes to be integrated with the Dundrum regional scheme. The additional cost involved in complying with that requirement is being examined in my Department before an approach is made to Tipperary (SR) County Council to make a special contribution to the group.
88.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the new water scheme for Bray, County Wicklow.
I approved a tender for this scheme on the 18th April last.
89.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he proposes to sanction the revised contract document (details supplied) for Lough Mourne, County Donegal, water supply scheme.
These contract documents are under consideration in my Department. I cannot indicate at this stage when a decision thereon is likely to issue.
I take it that the Minister is not unaware of the urgency of proceeding with this particular stage of the Lough Mourne contract, that it will have repercussions for a very wide area embracing a great number of people and perhaps development as well? Could I ask him to give it some further consideration and perhaps treat it with a little more urgency in view of the impact it may have or the lack of impact it may have.
I appreciate what the Deputy has stated but it is not possible for me at this stage to forecast when sanction can issue for the scheme.
90.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the delay in sanctioning the appointment of consulting engineers for the East Inishowen regional water supply scheme as recommended by Donegal County Council.
Having regard to the low priority accorded to this scheme by the Donegal County Council it was considered premature to approve its final planning when the proposal for the appointment of a consultant was submitted in 1971. Due however to the extent of releases of schemes in Donegal since then, this particular work has advanced in the priority list to the stage where the question of finalising its planning can now be reconsidered.
91.
asked the Minister for Local Government if there are any proposals before his Department to improve the sewerage system in Greystones, County Wicklow.
I approved preliminary proposals for a limited sewerage scheme to serve Greystones on the 19th April, 1971. Contract documents for this are awaited in my Department.