asked the Minister for the Environment if amended documents in respect of the number 2 Mechanical and Electrical Plant Contract have been submitted to his Department, if so, if he will approve of the documents and when permission to tender will be given.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mechanical and Electrical Plant Contract.
31.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
Contract documents for the two con-tracts referred to by the Deputy have been lodged with my Department by Mayo County Council and are under consideration. I am not at present in a position to indicate when approval will issue to these documents. Mayo County Council intend to carry out a section of the scheme to provide water to the industrial estate at Belmullet. This involves the laying of a new pipeline from the existing Belmullet source at Carne which will provide for the initial water requirements of a new industry being established on the estate. I have agreed to this proposal.
When were the documents lodged in the Department and why had it taken so long to have them evaluated?
The Belmullet regional scheme has been in planning for some time and in December 1976 approval issued for the preparation of the contract document for stage 1. Stage 1 will be divided into three contracts. Contract documents were submitted for stage 1 on 12 November 1979 and for contract 2, a mechanical and electrical plant, on 19 March 1980. In December 1979 Mayo County Council sought approval to design the Tallaght water tower so that detailed design drawings could be prepared. Approval issued to the council on 13 May 1980.
In view of the further proposals for industrial expansion in that area, would the Minister give the expedition of this matter his personal attention?
I certainly will.
The Minister has given us information about the contract documents which were submitted in November 1979. Could he indicate how many members of his staff are continually involved in evaluation?
That would appear to be a separate question.
If the Deputy puts down a question I will give him that information.
Could the Chair explain to me why it is a separate question?
It does not arise out of Questions Nos. 30 and 31 which ask specific questions about specific schemes. Those questions have been answered.
Would the Chair not agree that, since the Minister is unable to say when it might be dealt with, it relates to the amount of staff resources which have been allocated?
That Deputy cannot ask a supplementary about staff on every question.
If the Deputy wants that information I will get it for him. There is no problem.
It is the decision we want.
The Deputy did not ask that question.