The House will now hear two minutes statements on matters appropriate to the Minister for the Environment and to the Minister for Health. I propose to call on the Deputies I have selected in the following order: Deputy Hogan, Deputy Connaughton, Deputy Nealon and Deputy Finucane in respect of matters to the Minister for the Environment and Deputy Allen in respect of a matter to the Minister for Health. Each Deputy is entitled to two minutes in respect of each matter and each of the statements will be followed immediately by a two minute reply by the appropriate Minister or Minister of State. We will now hear a two minute statement from Deputy Hogan.
Adjournment Debate. - Environment and Health Matters.
I thank you for the opportunity to raise the question of payments for a group water scheme at Clifden, County Kilkenny. This matter has been going on for some considerable time and the amount of grants outstanding to the local group are considerable. In spite of a parliamentary reply which I received some time ago, stating that all grants have been paid to this group, this is not the case.
I suggest to the Minister of State that there is some confusion in the Department about the title or otherwise of the group involved. Certainly the contents of a parliamentary reply to my question and the information I have received from the group clearly indicate that moneys are still outstanding to the group. I would ask the Minister of State to clarify the situation tonight and to let me know when the moneys due will be paid.
I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to reply to the matter raised. Group water scheme grants of £1,615 were allocated to the Clifden group, County Kilkenny, in November 1989 for remedial works to their existing scheme. All grants were paid in November 1991. However, the Deputy may be referring to an adjacent group water scheme, Rathcash No. 2, which serves seven households from a bored well source.
The original source became polluted and was abandoned. The group have since developed an alternative source and have applied for grants. This is one of a number of proposals I am examining at present with a view to a decision as soon as possible.
The people who live in the village of Kilrickle, near Loughrea, County Galway, are frightened out of their wits every day of their lives because of the speed at which traffic passes — or should I say flashes — through their village. Kilrickle is situated on the main Galway-Dublin road and villagers fear for their lives as hundreds of cars drive through their village as if it were the grid at Mondello Park. There have been some fatal accidents, many injuries and several near misses.
I should like the Minister to give permission to Galway County Council to place what are called rumble strips on the road leading into the village at both ends, which would have the effect of slowing down the traffic. I understand that a ministerial direction is required by the county council before they are legally entitled to place rumble strips on the road. I ask the Minister to consider funding special warning signs similar to the new flashing signs that have proved so effective on the new Athlone by-pass. The signs would warn drivers to reduce speed. There are other new signs required and I understand that the county engineer in Galway has decided to put a better road surface through the village as well.
There is great anxiety and frustration in the local community, so much so that their local hall was packed to capacity the other night by people who want action of some description. They would be extremely thankful for any help the Minister might give them.
The question of road safety is one to which I accord a very high priority and I am prepared to give serious and sympathetic consideration to any practical measure that would improve traffic safety.
The road through the village of Kilrickle is part of a national primary route, and, consequently, ramps or other physical barriers to high speed are ruled out. I understand that there is a 30 mile per hours speed limit through the village, and that is the lowest limit the law allows. It is a matter for the Garda to enforce the speed limit through the village and I understand that there is a high level of Garda activity at this location, with 168 detections for speeding since the beginning of this year. It is clear that the local authority are anxious to improve the safety situation as much as possible, I understand that they are considering the provision of "hard shoulders," which should assist in improving safety. In addition, I have recently approved a proposal by the local authority to provide large speed limit signs that will have more of an impact on drivers.
And no rumble strips?
They are not permitted.
In Monasteraden, County Sligo, they are great triers. They seek constantly to maximise what nature has put there. Nature could possibly have been a little kinder so far as land is concerned, but it has generously made up for that with the wonderful lake waters all around. The people of Monasteraden are very active in pursuing development opportunities, particularly in tourist promotion based on the attractions of Lough Gara. They have utilised FÁS and other schemes for the practical and visual enhancement of the area.
There is now, however, one major problem curtailing future progress, the lack of a sewerage system. Already that has held up several tourist related developments that I know of. Last week I visited the area myself, along with local councillor, Gerry Murray. Monasteraden, along with Curry and Cloonacool, are, I think, the only small villages in County Sligo without sewerage schemes. Sadly, this year the Government have discontinued allocations under the small water and sewerage schemes. Perhaps Monasteraden would not qualify, but I want to protest anyway on behalf of Sligo County Council and, I am sure, all other local authorities. The scheme was a very useful funding scheme. The estimated cost of a sewerage scheme for Monasteraden is about £125,000, which is not very expensive. A sewerage scheme would enhance the village; it would result in a flurry of tourist related developments; it would facilitate in the building, in a familiar environment, of dwellings for the elderly who might need them; it would protect the environment and would enable a community who have shown they have courage, enterprise and commitment to realise their full potential. I hope the Minister of State will be in a position to make an announcement here in the Dáil that he will be funding the scheme in respect of which proposals have been submitted to his Department.
The village has been serviced in recent years with water from the south Sligo regional water supply scheme at a cost of some £600,000. The council have now proposed a package sewerage plan to provide extended aeration treatment at an estimated cost of £168,000. A preliminary report has recently been received in my Department for the scheme, and that is under examination. However, having regard to the level of commitment on the sanitary services programme generally and the number of high priority schemes competing for the capital available, I am not in a position to indicate when a decision can issue to the local authority.
The Ballingarry — Upper Commons group water supply scheme in County Limerick was formed in the mid-sixties. The grant approved on 21 October 1969 was £1,500. The water for the scheme is supplied from the Kilcolman Reservoir. The two-inch piping used can no longer cope with the supply requirements of the 48 participants in the scheme. Now, depending on location, some of the members do not have any water supply at certain times of the year. It is essential that the piping be improved. Additional storage capacity is also required. Limerick County Council sent a letter of approval for the scheme on 19 April 1990 and they are still awaiting departmental approval. The scheme has been estimated at a cost of £68,482. The group water scheme grants have been estimated at £27,600 and the members of the scheme have collected £20,000. What is still not known is the amount of special contribution and the balance that has to be met by the members of the group. It is now critically important that the Department of the Environment sanction this scheme to enable the work to commence as soon as possible in order to end the long wait of the frustrated members of this scheme for an adequate supply of water. I sincerely hope the Minister will clear this uncertainty and I look forward to an appropriate response.
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in the House this evening.
The group water scheme referred to was constructed more than 20 years ago to serve approximately 24 households and associated farms. Since then more than 20 additional houses have been connected to the scheme. The daily peak water requirement now exceeds the designated capacity and as a result some households, particularly those in elevated areas, have an unsatisfactory water supply during times of peak draw off. The group have submitted proposals to improve the supply by installing new pumping equipment, rising main and reservoir. Their proposal was approved by Limerick County Council on the condition that the group water main and reservoir were upsized to cater for the future development needs of the area. The cost of the improvement work is estimated at £68,482, including £20,000 for the additional works required by the council. Group water scheme grants are estimated at £27,600 and the group have applied for a special contribution of £20,000 to cover the cost of county council requirements. This would leave a balance of £20,900 to be met by way of members' contributions, which would amount to approximately £450 per member. There are many applications for group water scheme grants on hand at this time and these cannot all be approved at once. However, I will ensure that the Ballingarry group application is considered further as soon as circumstances permit.
At this stage the House should hear a two minute statement from Deputy Bernard Allen appertaining to the Minister for Health. Are we in a position to proceed?
I am, anyway.
Perhaps we should delay a little in anticipation of the Minister or the Minister of State coming to our rescue.
Sos beag.
I am afraid we cannot proceed. I apologise to the Deputy, and to the House, for the fact that there is no one to respond to the Deputy's two minute statement to the Minister for Health.
I respectfully suggest that, since I waited for two hours to put my case, I should be allowed do so.
No, it would not be a debate in any sense of the word.
The Dáil adjourned at 11 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 June 1992.