asked the Minister for the Environment the reason grant approval for the Antrane-Thomastown group water scheme, County Roscommon, has not yet been issued; and the reason there is such a major delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewage Schemes.
10.
Consideration of this group scheme has been prolonged by Roscommon County Council's proposal to increase the amount of the special contribution already approved in respect of the scheme. The approved design is also being re-examined to ensure that it is compatible with firm proposals which recently emerged for other group schemes in the vicinity.
I cannot say at this stage when grants may be allocated or paid for this scheme but I will ensure that there will be no avoidable delay in dealing with it so far as my Department are concerned.
Is the Minister aware that this group scheme was submitted in June 1983 and that a loan of £52,000 to pay for it was approved by the Department in February 1984? However, another group scheme in the area came on stream and there had to be some slight changes in the plan. Does the Minister agree the delays are totally unwarranted?
I am aware of the information given by the Deputy. In June, Roscommon County Council requested approval from the Department for a total of £74,000 which included an increase in the contribution of £22,000. The increase is to take account of additional materials necessary for the scheme which, of course increased the cost of the original specification. I have arranged for a senior Department inspector to examine the position with a view to improving the progress, which has been slow up to now.
I welcome the commitment of the Minister to get a senior inspector to examine it. Is the Minister aware that as many as 25 group schemes are awaiting sanction? Could he inform the House the reason why sanction of these schemes seems to have come to a halt?
That seems to be a general question.
Is the Minister aware that no scheme in Roscommon has been sanctioned since 20 July?
I will be answering a number of similar questions in relation to individual schemes and I will give the reasons why there has not been sanction for them. The Department have approved about 50 further schemes, through the sanitary services section. That section is producing approvals at a very high rate.
Is the Minister aware that the Nure scheme in respect of 200 applicants has been held up as a result of the Thomastown scheme? There is a serious need for running water in the area. I urge the Minister to approve the additional provision of £22,000, to give the green light to the scheme and to announce when it will be done.
I said I had instructed a senior inspector to examine this matter with a view to giving the information as quickly as possible.
Can the Minister give a deadline?
As soon as the inspector reports to me.
11.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Creggane water scheme will be cleared by his Department; and when grant aid will be paid.
The group will be asked shortly to obtain quotations for providing the scheme so that an estimate of costs can be prepared and the allocation of State grants considered for the scheme. I cannot say at this stage when grants may be allocated or paid for this scheme.
When did the Minister receive approval from the county council for the Creggane group scheme?
Grant application forms and design data for these proposals were submitted to my Department on 20 June last. These proposals were referred to the local inspector on 29 June — there was no delay there — for examination and approval. The local inspector has now indicated that the design is technically in order and the group will be notified shortly and will be requested to submit quotations so that an estimate of cost can be prepared and the allocation of the grant considered.
12.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Drumlosh-Nure group water scheme will be cleared by his Department; and when grant aid will be paid.
13.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Cloonronniffe group water scheme will be cleared by his Department; and when grant payment will issue.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together. Designs for these proposed schemes were recently received in my Department and are currently under examination. I cannot say at this stage when grants may be allocated or paid to these groups but there will be no avoidable delay so far as my Department are concerned.
When did the Department receive the designs for the schemes at Drumlosh and Nure?
In September and November 1984.
Could the Minister give a date for the clearing of the Drumlosh group scheme?
I have referred both schemes to the local inspector for examination and as soon as the proposals are seen to be in order I will not delay the clearing of the provisions.
14.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Dysart group water scheme will be cleared by his Department; and when grant aid will be paid.
It is hoped to allocate grants for this scheme at an early date.
How soon?
The local inspector is now preparing an estimate of costs based on the information received from the group. I can assure the Deputy I will not hold up the scheme as soon as the figures come to me.
How long has the scheme been with the Department? It is holding up the supply of water to 137 houses. The water is very badly needed during the summer months and I regret the Minister did not see fit to approve the scheme earlier.
The scheme arrived in the Department on 16 December 1983. A rough estimation is vital in order to get information for the ultimate cost of a scheme. On request from the Department figures were sent in by the group recently.
15.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Earlspark group water scheme will be cleared by his Department; and when grant aid will be paid.
Roscommon County Council's views on the revised design for this scheme are being examined by my Department prior to writing to the group. I cannot say at this stage when grants may be allocated or paid for this scheme.
Do the revised plans include a booster pump?
I do not have that information. I will try to get it for the Deputy.
My information is that it does. I should like the Minister to carry out a full and detailed investigation in his Department as to why that is necessary in view of the fact that the reservoir is only 500 yards away from the group scheme.
Will the Minister confirm the number of people involved in the Earlspark scheme?
It is to serve seven houses. I do not know the number of people involved.
Will the Minister approve the scheme as a matter of urgency? It is a small but important one.
I will have no difficulty once the Department's inspector gives the green light. It is incumbent on me to get an inspector's report before approving a scheme.
16.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Eskerbeg group water scheme, County Roscommon, will be cleared by his Department; and when grant aid will be paid.
17.
asked the Minister for the Environment when grant payment will issue to the Ballybeg/Strokestown group water scheme, County Roscommon.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
The quotations received by the group for these schemes are being examined by my Department to enable estimates of costs to be prepared and the allocation of grants to be considered.
As regards the Eskerbeg scheme how many applicants have there been? Is there some reason for the delay in his Department? Is there a shortage of staff? All the replies to date have referred to the fact that he is waiting for reports or that there are delays.
This is a scheme to serve five houses. Quotations were received in August 1984 and referred to the local inspector to prepare estimates of costs. Following that, allocation of grants for the scheme will be considered. I do not consider that there is any delay in my Department. I have given answers to any problems that may have caused delays in relation to individual group water schemes.
Does the Minister agree that there are an unprecedented number of questions about group water schemes? Does he not feel that there must be some serious reason why group water schemes are being held up? Will he investigate the matter in his Department?
I am aware from the number of questions. In a statement to Deputy Molloy last week I indicated that my Department had something in the order of 400 questions to answer. It is a tradition to ask the Minister for the Environment about every problem at local government level. If Deputies wish to proceed at Question Time in this way that is their choice. They could also have questions answered by way of written reply.
We would not get a detailed reply.
The Minister did not reply to Deputy Power's question. What is wrong in the group water supply scheme section of his Department? Why has there been a slow down in that area? In reply to an earlier question I was told that in the first three months of this year there was a drop of 50 per cent in the number of grants paid out by the Department for group water schemes. We all know the difficulties that are being experienced with group water schemes. Will the Minister tell the House if these difficulties in his Department have been resolved?
Questions Nos. 16 and 17 deal with two specific schemes in County Roscommon.
We would have information about these if they were handled properly in the Department.
If Deputies want a statement on group water schemes in general it would be more appropriate to put down a general question.
18.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Fearbreagues group water scheme will be cleared by his Department; and when grant aid will be paid.
It is understood that the group are seeking further quotations for the provision of their scheme. When these are received in my Department, an estimate of costs will be prepared and the allocation of grants considered for the scheme.
I cannot say at this stage when grants may be allocated or paid for this scheme.
I appeal to the Minister to use his good offices to ensure that this scheme is cleared as soon as possible. People in the area are desperate for a group water scheme.
One of the problems that has arisen with this scheme is that some quotations were submitted by the group to the Department on 10 October 1984. The group decided to seek further quotations for the scheme and when the details of those come into the Department we will consider them. It is not being held up by the Department.
The county council approved this scheme some time ago. The area is one of the driest in the county. Tests in relation to the rock in the area have so far proved successful. I asked the Minister to approve this scheme. When did the county council approve it?
The county council submitted it to my Department on 25 January 1984. As I said, the reason for any delay in this case is that the group have decided to seek further quotations for the scheme.
19.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the Loughacrick group water scheme, County Roscommon, will be cleared by his Department; and when grant aid will be paid.
Progress with this group scheme is dependent on the provision of the north east Roscommon regional scheme by Roscommon County Council. The position with regard to the regional scheme is outlined in my reply to Questions Nos. 624 and 625 of 13 November 1984.
The proposed group scheme will be considered further when the regional scheme is approved but I cannot say at this stage when grants may be allocated or paid to the group.
Will the Minister indicate when the north east Roscommon regional scheme will be approved?
In my reply to Question No. 625 I told the Deputy that the necessary additional technical information for this scheme was received in my Department on 13 September 1984 and was being examined. The scheme is to serve about 700 houses and 650 farms. While most of the scheme is to be carried out by direct labour, tenders will be required for certain plant and reservoirs. This is a very large scheme — 1,350 houses and farms being involved. It is being examined and I assure the Deputy there will be no delay as soon as the examination has been completed.
Has the Minister included an estimate for this scheme in the present capital programme? I note from the programme that there is no mention of this scheme. I ask him to include it. It is the last major scheme to be carried out in Roscommon and I hope the Minister will give it the priority it deserves.
Money will be made available as soon as the scheme has been vetted in my Department. I assure the Deputy there will be no delay about the provision of money.
20.
asked the Minister for the Environment when the final documentation was forwarded to his Department regarding the Strokestown sewerage scheme; the cost of the scheme; and when it will be approved by his Department.
Submission of detailed documentation requested by my Department on 8 August last is awaited to enable the scheme to be considered for final approval. It would not be appropriate for me to divulge the estimated cost in advance of the tendering process which will apply to aspects of the scheme.
Do I take it that the Minister is waiting for technical information?
Yes.
Is the Minister aware that this scheme is holding up the development of a major project in Strokestown? In the circumstances I ask him to ensure that the scheme will be given the go ahead as quickly as possible.
I said we were awaiting detailed documentation and, as soon as that is in my possession, there will be no delay in the Department.
Questions Nos. 21 to 26 inclusive, are for written reply.