asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the water supply situation in Dublin and if he will meet with representatives of the Dublin Corporation to discuss this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Water Supply.
32.
There is at the present time a delicate balance between the supply and demand for water in the Dublin area and excessive use of water supplies during a prolonged period of fine weather tends to upset this balance.
Responsibility for maintaining the water supplies in their areas rests with local authorities. I understand that Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council are doing everything possible to achieve maximum output from their supply systems and to manage the supplies available in the most effective way. Dublin Corporation have appealed to consumers to co-operate in conserving supplies by not wasting water—an appeal which I fully endorse.
The new major pipeline connecting the treatment works at Ballymore Eustace with the city which should be in operation by the end of this year will ensure that the water supply to Dublin is adequate to meet the increasing demand in the years ahead. In the meantime, I do not see that a meeting between the corporation and myself would make any positive contribution to the situation and the corporation have not in fact sought such a meeting. There are regular contacts between officials of the corporation and of my Department.
Would the Minister not agree that a certain responsibility for the supply of water rests on his shoulders? When there is a difficulty in obtaining a wayleave it is necessary to hold a public inquiry. The Minister is responsible for setting up that inquiry. Is he not aware that, on occasion, it has taken two years from the time the corporation sought such an inquiry until it was held, and a further six months before the findings of the inquiry were issued?
I agree with that. Under our procedures and our law those are the problems which it is not too easy to get over. The rights of individuals, legal and otherwise, are far-reaching under our Constitution. By the end of the year the new major pipeline connecting the treatment works at Ballymore Eustace which is coming into Dublin should be in operation. This will ensure that the water supply in the city of Dublin will be ade-quate to meet the increasing demands in the years ahead. My Department, in conjunction with Dublin Corporation, are making every effort to see that the position is put right. There is a high wastage of water. Perhaps members of the corporation and the public would bear that in mind.
The Minister has said these matters are not easily got over.
A question, Deputy.
Due to the fact that they are not easily got over, would the Minister not consider that it would be a worthwhile exercise to discuss with the corporation how best they could be overcome?
We have received no request——
Is the Minister aware that if one pipe burst it would take at least two or three days before it could be repaired and, despite the fact that the new scheme may be in operation at the end of the year, this could result at any time in a serious shortage of water?
The Deputy is now giving information.
I am not. I asked was the Minister aware.
The Deputy is continuing to give information.
I am not. I asked was he aware that this is the case. That is not giving information.
My Department and Dublin Corporation are doing everything possible to solve this problem.
Would the Minister not agree that one of the main factors which contributed to the delay of four to five years in completing this scheme was the hold-up in the inquiry which accounted for about two-and-a-half years, with the result that it took practically five years to complete it at an extra cost of £1.5 million? Does he not consider it would be a useful exercise for him to discuss those matters with Dublin Corporation?
I received no letter asking me to meet Dublin Corporation.
I did not say the Minister did. Will he consider it?
I will consider it.
I want to ask the Minister two brief questions. Is he aware of a statement made by the chief engineer of Dublin city indicating that the shortages are expected to continue for approximately the next five years? Can he, therefore, promise to Dublin city and county householders any better prospects than a shortage of water throughout the next decade? Would he elaborate on his reference to wastage of water and whom he has in mind in this respect?
I answered the first part of the question in my reply when I said that a new major pipeline connecting the treatment works at Ballymore Eustace with the city should be in operation by the end of the year and will ensure that the water supply for Dublin will be adequate to meet increasing demand in the years ahead. Perhaps the Deputy may not have been listening or may not have heard me. I am informed that the supply of water will be adequate by the end of the year.
That is not what the chief engineer thinks.
Wastage is caused by various types of negligence such as taps being left on, drains running, broken taps in houses and so on.
Has the Minister any category of people in mind?
I was talking in a general context. I should say, however, that I would welcome the co-operation of the people of the city and county.
Will the Minister meet the councillors if he is asked?
I will look into that.