asked the Minister for the Environment if he will sanction the sewerage scheme for Moylough, Ballinasloe, County Galway.
Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
427.
Approval to the preliminary proposals submitted by Galway County Council for this scheme issued to the council on the 5th June, 1981. The further planning of the scheme is a matter for the council.
428.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will sanction the sewerage scheme for Milltown, Tuam, County Galway.
There are no proposals before my Department for a sewerage scheme for Milltown, Tuam, County Galway.
429.
asked the Minister for the Environment the up-to-date position regarding the Castlefin sewerage scheme extension to Corcullion, County Donegal, for which contract documents were submitted to his Department in April, 1979.
Contract documents for this scheme are at present under consideration in my Department. The local authority's proposals for the scheme must be considered in the context of the amount of capital available for the overall water and sewerage programme, the number of schemes in progress or getting to construction in Donegal and elsewhere throughout the country, and the need to conserve capital for schemes of the highest priority. I am not at present in a position to say when approval will issue to the contract documents for the scheme.
430.
asked the Minister for the Environment the up-to-date position in relation to the Rosses regional water supply scheme, County Donegal.
The contract documents for the extensions of the Rosses regional water supply scheme to Brinaleck and Burtonport have been approved. Donegal County Council have advertised for tenders for the extension to Brinaleck.
With regard to the Burtonport extension, the county council have submitted additional proposals for the scheme to my Department. The council have been asked to submit further details regarding these proposals.
431.
asked the Minister for the Environment the up-to-date position regarding the sanctioning of tenders in respect of Lettermacaward headworks water supply scheme, County Donegal.
I issued approval to the acceptance by Donegal County Council of tender for this scheme on 29 July 1981 and I understand that the contract has been signed. On 9 October 1981 my Department notified the council of grant assistance covering 90 per cent of the estimated cost £787,500 made up as follows:
— An 80 per cent grant from my Department under the Western Package of F.E.O.G.A. aid
— A 10 per cent grant from Roinn na Gaeltachta.
The remaining 10 per cent is being financed by way of a Local Loans Fund loan of £78,750 for which sanction has been conveyed to the council.
432.
asked the Minister for the Environment the up-to-date position in respect of Ballybofey/Stranorlar sewerage scheme (Stage 1), County Donegal, as contract documents are with his Department for approval.
Having regard to the need to conserve capital for schemes of the highest priority I cannot say when I will be in a position to convey a decision to the local authority regarding the contract document for this scheme which are under consideration in my Department.
433.
asked the Minister for the Environment the progress made to date in respect of Letterkenny joint water supply scheme — Leannon scheme, (Stage 1) County Donegal.
Approval to the preparation of contract documents for the Letterkenny No. 2. Water Supply Augmentation Scheme Stage 1 — issued to Donegal County Council in July 1978. I understand that the further planning of the scheme has been postponed pending the outcome to objections to a proposed source for the scheme, the River Leannon.
On 11 March 1981 Donegal County Council wrote to the Department enclosing an application for sanction to borrowing £90,000 to finance a drainage survey of the River Leannon. The proposed survey arose as a consequence of the council's intention to abstract water from the River Leannon. The farmers who have riparian rights are opposing the abstraction of water until a survey is carried out as a first step to determine the extent of the drainage scheme which would be required to alleviate flooding in the valley.
The local authority have been informed that the capital allocation for miscellaneous environmental services for 1981 will be completely absorbed by existing commitments but that the application will be considered as sympathetically as possible in the context of the capital allocation which will be provided for these services in 1982.
Following objections by An Taisce to the proposed water abstraction, Donegal County Council proposed to commission a separate study of the environmental implications of the proposed water abstraction by An Foras Forbartha, at a cost of £6,000. It is considered that the justification for this study is not apparent at present and the proposed expenditure of £6,000 cannot be approved at this stage. Donegal County Council have been informed accordingly.