asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction the loan of £246,000 for Rhode regional water supply scheme, County Offaly.
47.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
46.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction the tender for Rhode regional water supply scheme, County Offaly.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
I have sanctioned the acceptance of tender for this scheme. No borrowing proposal in respect of it has been submitted to my Department to date.
48.
asked the Minister for Local Government the allocation of funds that will be available to Donegal County Council in the present year for water and sewerage schemes; and if this allocation will enable the county council to commence any new schemes.
The capital allocation of £962,000 for 1975 notified to Donegal County Council on the 16th May was intended to cover expenditure on schemes which had been approved and for which loans were sanctioned as at the date of the allocation. In accordance with normal practice additional allocations will be made in relation to any further loans that may be approved over the remainder of the year.
In addition to the allocation of £962,000 mentioned a sum of £19,000 was allocated towards the financing of works being undertaken by the council under their "small schemes" programme.
Can the Minister say if the allocation already made will do no more than continue and complete existing works in progress? Will any allocation be made in respect of proposals not yet commenced which are with the Department of Local Government?
I cannot give an answer to Deputy Cunningham on that at this stage. All I am saying is that very substantial increases in the amount of money for this type of work have been made available to Donegal County Council. Like every other local authority they could use a great deal more but they will have to take a share of a very big cake which is being divided between them.
Will Donegal County Council be provided with any funds to commence any new water or sewerage scheme this year?
The allocation given to them was related to their assessment of their capital requirements out of loans already sanctioned for the financing of works already approved and having regard to the total capital provided under the capital budget. Any additional loan sanctioned between the date of the local authority estimate and the date of the allocation was also taken into account. On this basis an allocation of £962,000 for 1975 was notified to Donegal County Council. Over the last four years the position was in 1972-73 they got £450,000, in 1973-74 they got £271,000, in 1974, for nine months, they got £631,000 and this year they got £962,000. I agree that Donegal County Council could probably use a lot more as could many other county councils but Donegal cannot expect to get all the money available in the State.
The Minister is saying they will not get any more?
I am saying that the chances of Donegal getting more than the tremendous amount they got this year are not very bright.
Would the Minister agree that £450,000 in 1972 would do a greater quantity of work than £962,000 would do this year?
No, because that would mean there was a 100 per cent increase in everything and there is not as Deputy Brennan knows.
Question No. 49.
Is the Minister comparing a nine-month period with this year?
No. I am talking about 1972-73 when £450,000 was allocated, which is much less than half what we are giving now.
Next question.
Is the Minister comparing it with the nine months' period last year?
No. Last year's allocation was £631,000.
The cost of tar has gone up 170 per cent.
They use more than tar. They do not use tar in those types of schemes.
A hell of a lot of whitewash is used over there.
I am using the money I am given. I have given a good deal of it to Donegal and they do not seem to appreciate it. Certainly Deputy Cunningham does not seem to appreciate it.
We wanted to commence new schemes this year and the Minister said: "No, thus far thou shalt go and no further."
I said Donegal County Council could have £962,000 as against less than half that which Fianna Fáil gave them.
(Interruptions.)
We cannot debate this matter. Question No. 49.
They will be waiting a long time for Fianna Fáil to give it to them.
49.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that Waterford County Council will not be in a position to carry out its programme of minor water and sewerage schemes because of insufficient allocation of funds.
The allocation made to Waterford County Council for 1975 provided £79,000 in respect of various works approved to date and £25,000 for the council's "small schemes" programme. This £25,000 should enable the council to undertake the more urgent of the schemes in their local "small schemes" programme. I may say that it was never envisaged that "small schemes" programmes should be carried out in total in any one year.
50.
asked the Minister for Local Government the up-to-date position regarding the proposed sewerage scheme for Annagry, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Preliminary proposals for this scheme were approved on the 6th October 1972. No further proposals in relation to the scheme have since been submitted to my Department.
Is the Minister actually saying that no progress has been made and that the fault lies with Donegal County Council?
Yes. Donegal County Council have not come back since 1972.
51.
asked the Minister for Local Government the position regarding the proposed sewerage scheme for Dunfanaghy, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Contract documents for a sewerage scheme for Dunfanaghy/ Portnablagh were approved on the 19th February, 1973. I understand that these are now being revised in the light of the fairly extensive development undertaken in the area in the last few years.
Could the Minister give me any information as to the cause of this revision? What is proposed to be done by it? In other words, what is all the delay about because the scheme is most urgent?
Donegal County Council requested the consulting engineers to revise the contract documents in the light of extensive development undertaken in the area. This is the reason they have given for revising the scheme. It is not our suggestion.
Would the Minister use his good offices to inquire from the county council what sort of fiddling around they are at in relation to this small scheme?
In 1972 it would cost £70,000, and I am sure it would cost a lot more now. As a result of the Deputy's question we asked for this information and I have given the Deputy the reply we received.
Would the Minister ask the county council every month, because they seem to forget?
52.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received a preliminary report on the proposed Newcastle West sewerage scheme, County Limerick; and, if so, when he will make a decision on the matter.
The preliminary report for this scheme is under examination in my Department. A decision will be given on the proposal as soon as practicable.
53.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received a preliminary report on the proposed Abbeyfeale sewerage scheme, County Limerick; and, if so, when he will make a decision on the application.
I approved this report on 30th May, 1975.
54.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will indicate the reason for the continued delay in sanctioning Kilteely, County Limerick, sewerage scheme, as Limerick County Council state they have replied to all queries.
I approved the preliminary proposals for this scheme on the 22nd May, 1975.
55. D'fhiafraigh
den Aire Rialtais Áitiúil cén fath nach bhfuil an scéim séim séarachais i gCill Rónáin, Contae na Gaillimhe le dul chun cinn i mbliana.
Ceadaíodh cuid a h-aon den scéim seo i Mí Eanáir, 1973 agus níl a fhios agam cén fáth nach bhfuil dul chun cinn déanta ó shin.
Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Rúnaí Parlaiminte. An bhfuil a fhios aige gur chuir an tAire in iúl do Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe nach mbeadh ach £120,000 ar fáil maidir le scéimeanna uisce agus séarachais i mbliana agus de dheascaibh an easpa airgid sin nár thig le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe dul ar aghaidh leis an scéim séarachais seo i gCill Rónáin agus go bhfuil an t-easpa séarachais seo i gCill Rónáin ag cur as do scéim tithíochta a bhí beartaithe ag an gComhairle Chontae?
Ceist ghairid led thoil.
Tá a fhios ag an Rúnaí Parlaiminte gurab é sin an fáth——
Sé an t-eolas atá agam ó mo Roinn go mba cheart don Teachta ceist a chur ar an gcomhairle chontae maidir le cén fáth nár chuaigh siad ar aghaidh leis an scéim.
An bhfuil a fhios ag an Rúnaí Parlaiminte—agus is trua liom nach mian leis an Aire labhairt ach i mBéarla——
(Cur isteach.)
Bhuel, cén fáth nár fhreagair tú an cheist má tá?
Sin ceist eile.
If the Minister does not understand what I am saying, I will put the question to him in English. Is he aware that his Parliamentary Secretary has informed me that his Department do not know why the Cill Rónáin sewerage scheme is not going ahead? I have asked the Parliamentary Secretary if he is aware that he has allocated £120,000 to Galway County Council for 1975 and that they had spent £105,000 before they got notification of the amount they were to receive?
Fuair an Teachta an freagra ón Rúnaí Parlaiminte.
The Deputy is making a long speech on this matter and he may not continue to do so.
Is the Minister aware that the inadequacy of the allocation he has made to Galway County Council has resulted in the sewerage scheme at Cill Rónáin being brought to a halt? The tendering was advanced.
The Chair cannot tolerate the continuation of a speech at Question Time.
Is the Minister aware that the lack of sewerage facilities is holding up a council housing scheme at Cill Rónáin?
Chuir an Teachta ceist mar gheall ar an scéim séarachais i gCill Rónáin agus thugas an t-eolas dó—gur ceadaíodh an scéim sin i Mí Eanáir, 1973, agus muna bhfuil sé ag dul ar aghaidh ba cheart don Teachta an milleán a chur ar an gcomhairle chontate.
Cén fáth nár thug an Roinn airgead do Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe chun dul aghaidh leis an scéim?
Fuair siad an cead chun dul ar aghaidh leis an scéim seo.
An bhfuil an Roinn sásta a thuilleadh airgid a chur ar fáil do Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ionas go mbeidh siad in ann tosnú ar an scéim seo os rud é go bhfuil chuile rud réidh chun dul ar aghaidh?
Thugamar cead don chomhairle chontae dul ar aghaidh leis an scéim agus níor chuaigh siad ar aghaidh leis ó Mhí Eanáir, 1973.
(Cur isteach.)
The Minister is present but he has asked his Parliamentary Secretary to answer the question. The Parliamentary Secretary has not given a fair and honest answer. On behalf of my constituents I want to register my protest at the false information given. There has been an attempt made to tell a lie in this House by the Parliamentary Secretary.
The Deputy is showing a disdain for the Chair; he is persistently disobeying the Chair. The Deputy knows that he ought to resume his seat when the Chair stands. The Deputy has held up questions for a considerable time in a disorderly fashion and I cannot allow him to continue. I am proceeding to the next question and if the Deputy continues to misbehave I shall have to ask him to leave the House.
I have no intention of misbehaving.
The Deputy cannot behave like this at Question Time. The Deputy must raise this matter on another occasion.
In view of the most unsatisfactory reply I received from the Parliamentary Secretary, I wish to give notice of my intention to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy in the matter and that must end it.
With all due respect, I hope the Minister will not run away from this question and that he will give an answer to this question tonight.
The Deputy got his reply but he was not man enough to take it, as usual.
I got a heap of rubbish. I got some lies. Why did the Minister run away from the question?
56.
asked the Minister for Local Government if advanced plans are available for a sewerage scheme for Castlemaine, County Kerry; if so, if money is available for the carrying out of the scheme; and when work is likely to commence.
As I explained to the Deputy in answer to his question on the same subject on the 29th January last, while I understand that Kerry County Council have proposals prepared for such a scheme, these have not been submitted for my approval to date. Consequently, I am not in a position to say when work on the scheme is likely to commence.
Could I have the Minister's assurance that this proposal, which is with his Department, will be examined and expedited? There is an open sewer in this village.
Deputy O'Connor was chairman of Kerry County Council and surely he could have brought the scheme higher on the list than tenth. There is no point in bringing something to the Department and looking for sanction for it when there are nine other schemes before it on the list. Deputy O'Connor should have it brought to the top of the list and then submit it to the Department.
We must get the plans approved first. When we get the plans approved, I can have the scheme brought up then.
They have not been submitted for approval yet.
I was informed last week that it was with the Department.
The council have a proposal but it has not been submitted.
57.
asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department has approved the plans submitted by Kerry County Council for a sewerage scheme for Fenit, Tralee.
The revised contract documents for this scheme were received in my Department on 6th instant and are under examination.
58.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction the consultants' report and plans for the proposed South Mulberry Lane sewerage scheme, Mitchelstown, County Cork, as a matter of urgency.
The local authority have been requested to furnish additional technical information to enable the project to be assessed in my Department.
59.
asked the Minister for Local Government when the documents relating to the East Limerick City drainage and sewerage scheme were lodged in his Department by Limerick Corporation; and when he proposes to approve of the scheme which is urgently required.
Part of the technical documentation necessary to enable this proposal to be assessed in my Department was submitted on 21st March, 1975. The balance of the necessary documentation is awaited.
60.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he will be in a position to sanction proposals submitted by Cork County Council for a sewerage scheme at Castlemagner, County Cork.
No proposals for a sewerage scheme at Castlemagner have been received in my Department.
61.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received a request from Mayo County Council for an increased capital allocation for water and sewerage schemes.
I have not.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Is it in order to have "injury time?"
I have had the unfortunate experience again of being caught by your ruling in regard to questions tomorrow. Could I ask the Minister a supplementary question on No. 61?
Not now.
The Minister is aware the work cannot go ahead unless the money is given to the Mayo County Council?
(Interruptions.)
A Ceann Comhairle, could you not now call Question No. 62?
As we did lose a little time as a result of the vote, we can take an extra five minutes now on questions, if the House so agrees.
Deputies
Agreed.
The next ten questions, if the House agrees.
It must be understood that I am dealing with all the business in the House today, and I think there should be a little consideration. I have dealt with the Traffic Wardens' Bill. I am dealing with questions; I will have the Bill again, Private Members' time, and then the Bill again at 7.30 p.m.
(Interruptions.)
We shall conclude questions at 4.05 p.m. Question 61 has been disposed of.
It has not been disposed of.
Have we not had the reply?
The reply is that no request had been received in the Department and it had been confirmed by the county council that no such request had been made.
Would the Minister accept from me now that the manager has submitted to the members of Mayo County Council a resumé of the schemes that will not be commenced because of lack of finance? Is the Minister aware that there are schemes in progress in Mayo at the moment which cannot be finished because there is not sufficient finance available? Is he also aware that Charlestown sewerage scheme, for which a tender has been accepted and for which the contract will be signed very shortly, will not be able to commence unless the Minister allocates to Mayo County Council extra money? Is he also aware——
These are a series of questions and I must dissuade the Deputy——
Is the Minister aware that the amount requested by Mayo County Council was considerably more than he has given?
It is a bit much when somebody asks a question like this: "To ask the Minister for Local Government if he has received a request from Mayo County Council for an increased capital allocation for water and sewerage schemes". Deputy Calleary did this, and my answer was: "I have not", and I further said that no such request had been received and it was confirmed with the county council that no such request had been made; in fact, Mayo County Council in 1972-73 got £107,000 but only spent £74,000 of it. In 1973-74 they got £426,500 and this year they have got £590,840. The question which had been asked has been answered, and I do not know what Deputy Calleary is beefing about.
Deputy Calleary is beefing about a report he received from the manager.
That is between the Deputy and the manager. Let him settle the matter with the manager.
62.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the Southern Committee of Cork County Council is short £3.1 million for the carrying out of their capital programme for water and sewerage for the current year; and the further moneys which he will make available to make up this shortfall.
The capital allocation of £1,324,000 for 1975 notified to Cork County Council (South) on the 16th May, 1975 was intended to cover expenditure on schemes which had been approved and for which loans were sanctioned as at the date of the allocation. The question of making additional allocations out of loans recently sanctioned is under consideration having regard to the total resources available to me and the competing needs of other areas.
Is the Minister aware that the total number of schemes applied for sanction to his Department is in the region of £4,500,000 and, in view of that, does he realise the inadequacy of the allocation to Cork? Furthermore, when can we expect a further allocation and can he indicate the size of the allocation?
No, it is not possible. I am aware that something around £4,000,000 is required but, as I said earlier, it is not possible to carry out all the schemes in one area in this year. This was recognised by my predecessors over the years, and all I can say is that there is a very substantially increased amount of money being given all round, and we should give as much as possible to areas which really need them. However, it is not possible this year to find £4,000,000 for the Cork area the Deputy represents.
I did not ask that such a figure would be made available, but I did ask for a substantial increase over and above the figure already allocated, and I also asked if it was not true to say that details of the schemes covered by that figure have long ago been received by his Department and that sanction for proceeding with them has been received but that adequate money is not being made available.
Again the position is that in 1972-73 they got £311,920; in 1973-74, £721,180; in 1974, £603,860; in 1975, £873,420. This means that the 1975 allocation is an increase of more than 40 per cent in the 12 months. I do not know what they expect, unless some Deputies think there is a Midas cave where a great deal of money can be found to cover any particular area, because if the Deputy's area gets this money some other area will be short.
Is the Minister aware that if extra money is not available there will be further massive unemployment in the Cork area?
No.
That is the position.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Could I have written replies to Questions Nos. 64 and 65?
I am sure the Deputy can be facilitated.