I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me raise this matter on the Adjournment. I should like to give one minute of my time to Deputy Mattie Brennan.
County Sligo Water Supply Scheme.
Such brotherly love is always acknowledged. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I do not know if it is brotherly love.
This matter relates to the appalling situation in regard to the north Sligo regional water supply scheme which cannot meet the existing demands of the area. In 1986 Sligo County Council submitted plans to the Department of the Environment for a new source, a new reservoir and balancing tanks as part of the water supply augmentation scheme. However, they are still waiting for funding so that they can provide this much needed water supply to the people of the area.
One must take into consideration the potential of the north Sligo area from a tourism point of view. W. B. Yeats is buried there and many tourists visit his grave. On bank holiday weekends there is a large influx of visitors to the area and bed and breakfast establishments and guest-houses do not have an adequate supply of water for their guests. In addition, domestic houses do not have an adequate water supply. This is inhibiting the development of the area. On numerous occasions Sligo County Council have had to refuse planning permission for various projects due to the inadequate water supply in the area. This cannot be allowed to continue.
I have been informed that the cost of the new scheme would be about £1.3 million. I ask the Minister to ensure that his Department give urgent priority to this scheme and provide funding immediately to Sligo County Council so that this appalling problem can be brought to an end.
I thank Deputy Reynolds for sharing his time with me. The area we are talking of this evening is one of the most beautiful parts of County Sligo with the sea on one side and beautiful "bare Benbulben's head" on the other. Under "bare Benbulben's head" is the village of Drumcliff where William Butler Yeats is buried. This is an area that is growing in tourism and where there are now a large number of bed and breakfast establishments. Unfortunately, there was a water shortage in that area during the recent bank holiday weekend. It is my hope that the Minister of State will have some good news for us tonight and that money will be made available for the north Sligo regional water supply augmentation scheme.
Last year Sligo County Council spent £60,000 under the small schemes programme on this project but that was not enough. The pipe to the reservoir is not adequate. What we need is a new reservoir at Cashelgarran. As Deputy Reynolds has said, the scheme is costing well over £1 million.
Approximately £2 million.
During the past three or four years £3.9 million has been spent by Sligo County Council on sanitary services schemes while £1.9 million has been spent by Sligo Corporation. All we need is another £1 million to complete the scheme which would be of great benefit to the people of the area.
Considerable progress has been made in recent years in providing new and improved sanitary services throughout the country. Since 1980 over £700 million has been invested in the sanitary services programme. County Sligo has received its fair share of this significant investment, £15 million having been spent in providing new and improved schemes. The investment programme is continuing with over £65 million allocated nationally and £875,000 to Sligo in 1991 for schemes under construction.
Water supply schemes have been completed at Lough Talt and Collooney while the Lough Easky water supply scheme, stage two, is nearing completion. It will provide an adequate supply of water and will serve over 62 square miles of the south-east region of County Sligo. In addition, a number of major schemes are in planning, for instance, Cumeen sewerage scheme, Strandhill sewerage scheme and Sligo main drainage scheme. While I am sure the House will agree that progress is being made on the sanitary services programme in County Sligo and throughout the country generally, regard must be had to the very difficult economic climate and competing demands for limited funds not only on the Exchequer but also within the sanitary services programme.
The position in relation to north Sligo regional water supply augmentation scheme is that the existing treatment works were refurbished under the 1990 small schemes programme which resulted in the quality of the finished water being brought up to acceptable standards. Nevertheless, I am aware of the fact that there are difficulties with the current supply in the north Sligo area. Further works, as proposed in the augmentation scheme, are required. However, having regard to the level of commitments and the other high priority schemes competing for the limited capital funds available, it is not possible to anticipate when the scheme might be approved to go to tender and construction. When funds become available I will see what can be done in an effort to rectify the matter.
I thank the Minister of State for the history lesson.
I will keep the Deputy up-to-date.
There will be many thirsty people in north Sligo.