(Limerick East): asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the serious water shortage on the north side of Limerick city; and if he will sanction the plans for a new water main to serve the area which were placed before his Department over four years ago.
Written Answers. - Limerick Water Scheme.
738.
The contract documents for phase 1 of Limerick City West Water Augmentation Scheme — comprising a new 28 inch watermain — submitted by Limerick Corporation are under consideration in my Department. The approval of the relevant documents must be considered in the context of the overall capital allocation for sanitary services and the number of schemes in progress or getting to construction for which adequate finance must be provided, including the expansion of the capacity of the treatment works for Limerick city at Clareville — from about 5 million gallons per day to about 11 million gallons per day. This major project is now nearing completion at an estimated cost of nearly £3 million.
As an interim measure, sanction has issued to the corporation's proposal for improving pressures in the affected parts of the city by the installation of a booster pump, at an estimated cost of £15,000, under the Small Schemes Programme, 1982, for which an overall capital allocation of £65,000 has been made to Limerick Corporation.