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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1975

Vol. 278 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Schemes.

47.

asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the considerable expansion in the programme for the supply of processed water in Dublin Corporation housing areas, he will state why there is still a shortage in these areas.

The local authorities in the Dublin area have a programme in planning and construction which will provide adequate water in the area for all development. The total programme will, it is estimated, cost in the region of £10 million. Most of the schemes in the programme are under construction but, as they are major undertakings, they will take some time to complete. Full benefit will not be available from the programme until all the works are in operation.

However, works already completed have improved the position considerably from what it was a few years ago.

I would remind the Deputy that it is not possible to remedy overnight the result of failure over the years to provide sufficient capital for sanitary services.

Might I ask the Minister is it the fault of the local authority or because of delays in his Department that parts of old Dublin that had an adequate supply now find themselves with practically no pressure? If two or three people turn on their taps at the same time the fourth person does not get any water.

That is not the question Deputy Lemass had down. I answered the question he put down. There is much more water than there was. There will be adequate water for everybody, but for a number of years many areas were short of supply and are only now catching up.

In view of the fact that Wicklow County Council obtain their water from Dublin, might I ask the Minister if it is true that there is plenty of water for the north Wicklow area?

If Deputy Murphy would put down a question, I would be glad to answer it next week.

Question No. 48.

I ask the question in view of the fact that the supply comes from Dublin.

I should like to ask that question again because there is somebody at fault here. There must be delays either in the Minister's Department or somewhere else. It adjoins local authorities such as Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown and Wicklow. Dublin Corporation have been selling water to neighbouring local authorities and I have received complaints about an inadequacy of supply. I am merely trying to detect who is to blame and then we can get after them.

My information from Dublin Corporation is that generally there has been an improvement in city pressure due to completion of initial works at Ballymore Eustace on a purification plant. They point out that the expansion programme is still at construction stage so that, while improvements can be expected at various stages overall, until the Dublin water supply programme is completed, the corporation will not be in a position to make good all deficiencies. That will not be possible until the works at Ballymore Eustace, including the Department have yet given sanction to Saggart, are completed. These works may take up to three years. It says here that if Deputy Lemass wants information from Dublin Corporation Waterworks Department, they will be glad to furnish it to him.

From the information I have got I would assume that, because of new work that had to be introduced, there may be something in what Deputy Lemass has said. Surely everybody will agree that if it is going to improve eventually the overall water supply, this is something which can be expected.

Surely that is bad planning when there are adjoining local authorities involved?

I would not agree that it is bad planning.

48.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction a loan for the Aughacashla regional water scheme, Castlegregory, County Kerry.

I have sanctioned the raising of a loan for the financing of the scheme referred to by the Deputy.

49.

asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department have yet given sanction to the application for a subvention towards the Ballyheane group water scheme, Castlebar, County Mayo.

My Department requested further information from the group on a number of points which arose on examination of the proposal. A reply was received from the group on 5th February, 1975, and is being examined.

50.

asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding Cahergal group water scheme, Clonbur, County Galway.

There is no record in my Department of a group water scheme for Cahergal, Clonbur, County Galway. It is possible that there could be a scheme under the title of a different townland and if the Deputy can supply any additional information I will have further inquiries made.

After we have been down there, we will come back with all the information.

If Deputy Molloy comes in with it himself, I will be glad to give it to him courteously, as I do always.

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