asked the Minister for the Environment the expected date of the completion of the sewerage scheme at Cavan; and its capacity vis-á-vis current industrial domestic demand in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
13.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the sewerage scheme catering for industrial development at Killygarry, Cavan, which is due for completion in early 1984. The design capacity of the proposed sewage treatment works is 180,000 gallons per day. It would be a matter for Cavan County Council to determine how much, if any, of this capacity is additional to present requirements, on completion of the treatment works.
Will the Minister of State see to it that there will be no restrictions on the use of the scheme in view of the serious unemployment in the construction industry in the area and also the growing unemployment of young people in the area who require manufacturing industry to be established in the complex on that road?
I will take note of what the Deputy has said.
14.
asked the Minister for the Environment the sewerage schemes for Counties Cavan and Monaghan for which money is being made available in 1983.
The capital returns for 87 sanitary authorities are being analysed in my Department. On the basis of these returns, I hope to be in a position to determine the allocations for the current year shortly. I am not, at present, in a position to anticipate the amount of allocations to be made to individual sanitary authorities. I can, however, say that whatever allocation is made will include adequate capital moneys to fund the sewerage schemes which are at present in progress in Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
Does that mean that the Minister of State does not envisage any new starts in the sewerage scheme?
No, it does not. It means exactly what I said. I am not in a position to give the detailed breakdown for each of the 87 sanitary authorities but there is sufficient provision to give an assurance that the existing schemes will be maintained.
The Minister's attitude prompted the question. He is positive about the existing one. I want to know if he has any doubts about other projected ones.
As the Deputy is well aware, every local authority in every year have more schemes up on the desk of the Department than there is money available for them. Therefore, it is a question of how much is made available, then it is a matter for each local authority to decide which schemes they want to promote in that year.
15.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position of the proposed East Inishowen water scheme, County Donegal.
Contract documents for this scheme have been submitted to my Department by Donegal County Council and are under consideration at present. In view, however, of the large number of fully approved schemes in progress or getting to construction for which adequate finance must be provided, I cannot say at this stage when I will be in a position to approve the contract documents for the East Inishowen scheme.
Could the Minister of State tell me when the contract documents were sent to the Department and also whether an EEC FEOGA grant was approved and, if so, for what amount and in what year? Also, has the scheme been put forward for a European Investment Bank loan?
I think that is three questions. First of all, the contract documents were submitted as far back as 23 July 1976. Secondly, the scheme qualified for £53,000 grant from the FEOGA fund. What was the Deputy's third question?
Has any scheme been put forward for a loan from the European Investment Bank?
I do not have that information available in my brief.
Is the amount of grant that has been approved still available or has the time run out for the pick-up of that grant?
I do not know the answer to that question. I will get the details for the Deputy and write to him directly on it.
In view of the long delay in approving or sanctioning this scheme is the Minister aware that in that area there is a grave shortage in relation to water and also that many applications are with Donegal County Council for planning approval which cannot be granted due to no water being available? This in turn is creating a problem in relation to employment in an area which has a very high unemployment record as was indicated by another Minister in answer to a previous question. Would the Minister of State consider at this stage that after seven years it is time that at least this scheme should be brought to the top of the pile as far as Donegal County Council are concerned?
I hesitate to interfere in the internal affairs of Donegal County Council, but I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that Donegal County Council have listed this scheme as only ninth in their order of priority. The question of priority spending within each local authority is first and foremost the responsibility of the local authority. If the Deputy is concerned, as obviously he is, then it would appear that the most effective way he can effect that is to get it reverted in the order of priorities within Donegal County Council.