asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the serious water pressure problem in the Sallynoggin area of County Dublin; the action, if any, he intends to take in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Water Supply.
4.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the very serious water pressure problem in the Dún Laoghaire area and in particular Blackrock and Sallynoggin and other areas in the constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
6.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the shortage of water in Trimleston Gardens, Booterstown, County Dublin; and when it is proposed to have the situation rectified.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together The maintenance of a satisfactory public water supply is a matter for the relevant sanitary authority and I have no direct function in the matter. In the circumstances, however, I have had inquiries made of Dún Laoghaire Corporation on the matter.
The corporation have indicated that the water supply at Sallynoggin and Blackrock is now satisfactory apart from a few isolated problems thought to be due to individual leaks or faulty fittings which the local authority are dealing with in the normal way. There was a problem in the general supply some months ago when the Dublin Corporation supply to the area was restricted to reduce the draw down of water from the Stillorgan reser voir. When it became clear that this restriction was causing problems in part of Dún Laoghaire, Dublin Corporation restored the pressure and it is understood that the general supply has since been satisfactory.
As regards the water supply to Trim leston Gardens, Booterstown, Dún Laoghaire Corporation have indicated that they are not aware of any complaint regarding a shortage of water in this are except in the case of isolated incident pertaining to leaks or blocked pipe which are being examined in the normal way.
I am sorry to have to raise once more the matter of water pressure at Sallynoggin. As Deputy Cosgrave quite properly pointed out, we should be out canvassing today.
Will the Deputy please put his question.
I have just come back from Sallynoggin and I do not know where the Minister got his information. I was in O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin Park, Sarsfield Park and Pearse Road. The Minister referred to a few isolated problems and I agree that Question No. 4 deals with the Sallynoggin area. How can the Minister say that the problem is solved? On the information he has he genuinely believes that the problem has been solved but this is not so. It is particularly aggravated at weekends where people cannot even have baths. It is just not good enough.
Dún Laoghaire Corporation informed the Department of the situation and that is where I got my information.
I appreciate the Minister's problem.
They are the responsible authority. The Sallynoggin and Blackrock areas generally are fed from the Dublin Corporation's 24-inch main off the Vartry system from Roundwood to Stillorgan. There is no shortage in the Sallynoggin and Blackrock areas although increased demands at weekends result in a drop in pressure. There has been an underlying problem with regard to the Stillorgan reservoir and we hope this will be eased when the construction of the trunk main from Saggart to Ballyboden is completed in a few months' time. This will permit of the augmentation of the Stillorgan reservoir by about 3 million gallons of water per day.
Has the Minister established any evidence that from time to time the pressure is deliberately reduced, perhaps because of mains work, and that there is little or no water in the areas mentioned?
Where works are in progress on water mains, it is usual for local authorities to inform the people in the areas affected so that arrangements can be made to bring in supplies before the work starts. I have given as much information as possible from that given to me by Dún Laoghaire Corporation and I understand that continuing problems will be greatly eased by the new connection being made to the trunk main from Saggart to Ballyboden.
The Minister has dealt with the problem in Sallynoggin but, as I live in Blackrock, I have firsthand experience of the lack of water pressure in that area——
A question, please, Deputy.
Can the Minister tell the House when the problem will be solved? He mentioned a new scheme and can he say when it will become a reality?
I am informed that the scheme will be completed in a few months' time.
With respect to the Minister, a few months' time could mean this time next year. Would the Minister be daring enough to say whether it will be completed in September, October or November?
No, the Minister would not be daring enough to interpret what Dún Laoghaire Corporation mean by a few months' time but I assume it means a few months.
Does the Minister mean two or three months? I do not know what a few months mean.
A few months to me means two or three months.