asked the Minister for the Environment if in view of the very steep increase in the cost of water group scheme materials, he will increase immediately the group grant to a realistic figure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
12.
The level of grants for group water schemes is kept under constant review in my Department. I consider that the existing grant maxima for group water schemes are reasonable having regard to the average grants paid in 1981 for domestic supplies in both western and non-western counties.
Is the Minister aware that in view of the inadequacy of existing grants the old group schemes have come to a standstill? Is the Minister also aware that such schemes will be handed over to local authorities who are unable to meet their own commitments? Is he aware that younger people in the county who made a small contribution in the initial stages of these group schemes have now lost their money because the schemes have come to a standstill?
I appreciate the position as regards cost and so on and, as I said in the reply, I am keeping the matter under constant review. I take the Deputy's point and I will have a sympathetic look at the matter provided sufficient funds can be made available.
This would need to be done urgently.
Yes, I appreciate that.
13.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will sanction without delay the plans and design for the Eminiska-Cloughjordan group water scheme in County Tipperary which was approved by Tipperary (North Riding) County Council as the committee of this scheme are anxious to proceed with work as soon as possible because the matter of a water supply is a major problem for many people in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Tipperary (N.R.) County Council recently submitted plans and design for the Eminiska-Cloughjordan group water scheme to my Department. The council have requested approval for a special contribution to cover the cost of providing increased pipe sizes on certain sections of the scheme to cater for future development in the area. Both the design and the request for special contribution have been examined by my Department's technical advisers and further information has been requested from the county council.
Is the Minister not aware that the problem that North Tipperary council are concerned with is not future development as much as existing development where people do not have a water supply at present?
My Department in late May wrote to the council requesting further information and if they let me have that information I will have the matter looked into and I shall communicate with the Deputy also.
14.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the very acute water supply problems in the Portroe area of County Tipperary, he will now sanction the proposal put to him by Tipperary (North Riding) County Council to make a special grant to the Youghal-Newtown group water scheme, County Tipperary, to enable the trustees of that scheme to undertake changes in the scheme that will ensure an increased water supply for the Portroe area.
15.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will sanction as a matter of urgency a special grant allocation, as submitted by North Tipperary County Council, to the Youghal group water scheme, Newtown, Nenagh, County Tipperary.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. On 13 May 1982, my Department informed Tipperary (N.R.) County Council that a special contribution of £13,622 payable to the Youghal-Newtown group water scheme had been approved towards the cost of increased pipe sizes to meet the council's requirements.
16.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position in relation to a group water supply scheme at Knockaroo. Borris-in-Ossory, Portlaoise, County Laois; if his Department identified a source of water to supply the area; and if he will set out all the work carried out by his Department to date in connection with this water supply scheme.
The proposed source of supply for the Knockaroo group water scheme is a county council well and the council were requested in August 1981 to test the yield and the quality of the well. The quality of the water is satisfactory and the results of the yield test are awaited in my Department.
The survey sheets for this scheme were submitted to my Department in August 1981 and since then my Department's inspector for the area has been in constant communication with the county council and with the promoter of the scheme.