asked the Minister for the Environment the current cost of the proposed main drainage scheme for Ballina, County Mayo, the amount of money made available in 1980 for this scheme and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballina Drainage Scheme.
28.
No capital allocation has been made for the Ballina main drainage scheme as the relevant tenders are still under consideration in my Department. Pending a decision on the tenders, it would not be appropriate for me to give a current estimate of the cost involved.
Is the Minister aware that the delay in this case is perpetuating a situation in which we have a town of 7,500 residents with raw sewage entering the River Moy, which is a well-known salmon river, and that pollution is taking place? Is the Minister aware of all of the urgency of providing the necessary funds for a scheme that will now cost—if the Minister does not say it I will say it—£3.6 million of which £7,000 was got in this year, 1980, which would not even pay for the drawings?
The Deputy is now giving information.
The Minister has failed to give any information.
One must confess that it is a pleasant change.
Contract documents for the Ballina main drainage scheme were approved on 17 July 1978. The scheme consists of treatment works, trunk sewers and intercepter sewers. Due to appeals against planning permission for the treatment works the local authority were delayed in advertising the scheme. A planning appeal concerning the location of the treatment works was decided in favour of the urban district council on 23 January 1979. Tenders for the mechanical plant have been obtained already and a tender approved in March 1979 in the sum of £230,867. Tenders for civil works and pumping stations were submitted in January 1980. Tenders for the associated building works were submitted in April 1980 and are at present under consideration in the Department. No borrowing proposals has been received to date from the local authority.
When does the Minister expect to have completed his scrutiny of the documents submitted to him?
In due course.
When is "in due course"?
I cannot say at present.
Does the Minister expect any further allocation this year to commence work?
I cannot give any indication on that yet.
So the Minister is allowing a situation to continue in which there is pollution in a river of the utmost importance?
Deputy O'Toole has had about six supplementaries. Question No. 29.
I cannot add anything further to that. We are looking into the matter at present.
I am looking into the river every day and seeing what is in it.
Arising out of the Minister's reply to Question No. 28——
I have already called Question No. 29.
With the permission of the Chair, might I ask the Minister if he has adequate staff resources to evaluate the documentation?
I am happy with that.
Is there adequate staff in the Custom House for the Minister to evaluate the documentation in due course?
Yes, I would say so.