The House will now hear two minute statements on matters appropriate to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment and to the Minister for the Environment. I propose to call the Deputies I have selected in the following order: Deputy Allen in respect of two matters, one to each Minister, and Deputy Finucane in respect of two matters to the Minister for the Environment. Each of the Deputies is entitled to two minutes in respect of each matter and each of the statements will be followed immediately by a two minute reply from the appropriate Minister.
Adjournment Debate. - Enterprise and Employment and Environment Matters.
On 23 March I tabled 25 questions to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment in relation to the partnership schemes set up throughout the country last year before the general election. Altogether my questions merited a two-paragraph reply, which stated very little other than that the Department was funding administrative staff for the pilot schemes and the development companies but that there was nothing in the way of grants or finance to subvent companies willing to try to get off the ground.
Previous to the general election the schemes were announced amid great fanfare. I remember the day that the Taoiseach came to Cork. Every person of consequence in Cork was there — 400 people — when the Taoiseach announced the formation of the North Lee development company. That company, and similar companies elsewhere have administrative staff. The experience of people who have dealt with some of these companies is that they constitute another layer of bureaucracy, another hurdle of frustration, to be overcome, another vehicle of confusion for people endeavouring to provide employment in areas of high unemployment.
Will the Minister establish clearly this evening what interlink there is between FÁS and the IDA to get to grips with the appalling unemployment problems in those areas? Will the Minister state positively whether her Department hopes to go beyond merely providing advice? I would remind her that people can obtain advice from existing State bodies without the Minister putting in place a further layer of bureaucracy.
I am somewhat perplexed because the question tabled by Deputy Allen referred to:
the failure of the Department of Enterprise and Employment to adequately fund the local pilot schemes for job creation such as the North Lee development company.
Unless I misunderstood the Deputy, in his question this evening he appeared to say he did not want projects such a the North Lee development company——
No, I asked the Minister to explain.
The Deputy described it as an extra layer of bureaucracy which would hinder job development. I am genuinely puzzled. I want to help the Deputy but I do not know whether he believes in the project being put forward. Certainly we do. I should say that the Taoiseach's announcement was quite correct, in that the North Lee is one of the 12 area-based partnership committees established under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress in 1991 to monitor the area-based response to long-term unemployment.
I should tell the Deputy that administrators have been funded. The global grant allocated will be administered during 1993 to the different area partnership committees nationwide. The purpose of projects such as the North Lee one is that they will "energise" local communities and groups to come forward with ideas for job creation. The firm hope is, now that they have been established, they will act as an energiser or catalyst for such funding. The only moneys committed and expected were for administrative overheads. A global grant of £4.2 million will be disbursed via the 12 area partnership committees between late 1992 and late 1993. Each partnership committee has received approximately £100,000 with more to follow. They have their administration in place and will be funded when proposals for such funding are deemed adequate and correct.
I do not have intimate knowledge of the North Lee project, but if it is locally based, aimed at enterprise — that is anything creating activity whether in jobs, social training or education — it will be examined in relation to the schemes proposed.
Knowing Deputy Allen's commitment to Cork, I am sure he would be in favour of the North Lee project receiving that type of special attention, which was the remit of the area partnership committees. I wish to dispel the notion that it is just another layer of bureaucracy. It is an energiser and catalyst for local community groups to work towards and see to fruition.
The absence of a national waste management policy has demonstrated that the Government is very undecided on how it proposes to tackle the major and ever-growing problem of waste management and disposal. Indeed, we have been promised such a comprehensive policy by the Department of the Environment over many years. However, its absence has affected job creation in a major way. Jobs are being lost, especially within the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, because of the fuzziness of the Department's attitude to this ever-growing problem. In addition, it hinders our overall approach to the major problem presented by Sellafield since we are dependent on Sellafield for the disposal of much of our radioactive waste. Neither have we any policy for the disposal of hospital and clinical waste, or chemical and toxic or radioactive waste.
We have been told over the years that the Department has undertaken studies and prepared reports. Yet we still await a comprehensive policy statement in relation to this growing problem. The Minister should put such a comprehensive policy in place as quickly as possible. I would prefer that we, as a nation and the Minister's Department, would have control over this issue rather than be dictated to by the inevitable regulations to be introduced by the EC. The absence of such a policy is costing us dearly in terms of jobs and hinders the IDA in its quest for jobs abroad.
While appreciating that Deputy Allen has raised this question. I must reject his contention that my Department does not have a firm waste management policy. However, I do support part of Deputy Allen's contention in that fairly difficult decisions must be taken in relation to this matter. Judging by what the Deputy said, it would appear he is prepared to grasp this nettle in the way we all feel it should be grasped. Current Irish policy in relation to wastes rests firmly on the strict enforcement of relevant EC and national legislation in accordance with waste management plans prepared by local authorities. Policy is not, and should not be, static and is constantly being developed and reviewed.
The enhancement of economic performance and employment, through sustainable growth and development is a fundamental Government objective. As the Culliton report emphasised, a sound natural environment is essential not only to the quality of Irish life but as a resource base for continued growth in employment-intensive sectors of the economy. Waste management policy is a significant element of this strategy.
The Government is committed to improving arrangements for waste planning, recovery and disposal. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a clear commitment to the early introduction of a waste Bill, which will provide a full and comprehensive framework for the evolution and implementation of future waste management policies. The Bill will address not merely the question of waste disposal, but how best to achieve a balanced approach to the various and complex management issues arising, not least of which concern measures and policies to prevent and minimise waste generation.
In prospect of the new Bill, last year my Department published an informal discussion paper seeking views on certain key issues of waste policy, and subsequently held a two-day seminar for interested bodies. A study on means to promote greater utilisation of clean technologies by industry has been commissioned. Only today, the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Browne, published a major study on recycling waste in Ireland, with a view to obtaining an input from industry and the consumer in the development of this important policy area.
While this strategic work is in progress, practical measures are also being taken in support of industry. For instance, my Department provided direct funding, and is seeking further EC funding, towards the establishment of a clean production promotion unit in UCC which, together with the Clean Technology Centre of Cork regional technical college, will be of major assistance to manufacturing industry. And, of course, the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency will assist industry in realising improved economic performance and benefits through better environmental management. In carrying out its primary task of regulating activities which pose a high risk of pollution, the agency will be obliged to have regard to the need to promote sustainable and environmentally-sound development, processing and operations.
Finally, I have taken important steps, in the context of the new Cohesion Fund, to establish more secure financial support for the provision of waste infrastructure. A number of local authority proposals of this kind feature in the recent submission made to the EC Commission. I am confident of continuing EC support for such projects in line with the stated EC objective of establishing suitable national and Community networks of waste management facilities.
Work on Rathkeale sewerage scheme is progressing at present at a cost in excess of £2.3 million. It is regrettable that Castlematrix in Rathkeale is not included in the scheme as in excess of 20 houses would be accommodated, with the possibility of other houses being connected in the future.
Due to the density of houses in this area the residents are having difficulties with their septic tanks. A feasibility study has been carried out and I understand that it may be necessary to cross the river to accommodate the residents and to complete the pumping station. I look forward to the Minister for the Environment indicating the timescale he has in mind for this area to be connected to the sewerage scheme. I extend a welcome to him to visit Rathkeale next Friday to see what we have in mind.
I thank Deputy Finucane for his premature welcome and I look forward to seeing him and his colleagues in Limerick on Friday. I am aware that Limerick County Council have requested that extensions costing almost £0.5 million be added to the Rathkeale sewerage scheme and I am glad of the opportunity to outline my approach to such proposals.
In the last five years over £16 million has been invested in the provision of water and sanitary services in the Limerick area. In addition to the £2.7 million being invested in the Rathkeale scheme a further £11 million is being provided towards the construction of a sewerage scheme which will serve the Castletroy area.
The Rathkeale sewerage scheme involves the laying of separate foul and storm water sewers and the provision of pumping stations and secondary treatment facilities to serve the existing population. Work is due to be completed in May 1993. The need for the scheme arose from the inadequacies of the existing treatment works and the danger of the pollution of the River Deel, which is used extensively downstream for water production.
The planning and development of water and sewerage schemes is, in the first instance, a matter for local authorities. The design of schemes should be such that it adequately caters for the urgent needs of an area at an economic cost. The question of extending the design and scope of a scheme to cater for additional areas on an ad hoc basis is unacceptable in terms of planning and financing of schemes.
In August 1992 Limerick County Council sought approval to a number of extensions to the Rathkeale scheme to serve the Kyletaun, Ballywilliam and Castlematrix areas at an overall cost of £474,000. The extension to Castlematrix was to serve some 14 existing houses — currently served by septic tanks — at an estimated cost of £138,000. This proposal was fully examined in my Department and could not be approved, given the substantial capital investment already committed to this scheme.
I can assure Deputy Finucane however that the merits and demerits of all proposals are fully considered in my Department and that, despite the concerns and comments expressed by him, I do not feel that the extension of the Rathkeale sewage scheme to Castlematrix is justified. It would however be open to Limerick County Council to provide this extension from their own resources if they so wish.
Finally, I should point out that the estimated cost of each house is in the region of £9,000. We try to set a norm nationally with regard to the resources that are available to us in order to spread these as efficiently as possible. Deputy Finucane will appreciate that by any standards it is beyond our ability to meet that cost per house.
This second matter concerns a group water scheme which embraces the Meenoline, Sugarhill and Tullis areas, which lie between Templeglantine and Abbeyfeale. I understand that £2.5 million has been allocated this year for group water schemes and that of this amount £1.5 million has been carried forward from last year, leaving a total of £1 million. I also understand that 89 schemes are awaiting approval.
This scheme has been approved by the county council and it is awaiting final documentation for the scheme. The assurance I am looking for on behalf of the people of that area — this scheme will serve about 98 houses, if approved — is that funding will be provided at a future date, given the size of the project. In saying this I am aware that there are constraints at present. Perhaps the Minister could at least reassure the people of those areas, who badly need a water supply, that some funding will be provided when all the documentation is finalised at local level.
In 1992 ten group water schemes were completed in County Limerick, serving a total of 223 houses and 84 farms. A further ten schemes are nearing completion and will serve an additional 367 houses and 209 farms.
In December 1991 the organiser of the scheme submitted completed group water scheme survey forms to my Department's group schemes section in Ballina. These forms showed that up to 89 potential members were interested in forming a group scheme which would serve 85 houses and 45 farms in the townlands of Meenoline, south Keale, Tullig, Sugarhill, Doonakenna, Glendarragh and Ballymurragh.
My Department subsequently advised the group to prepare a detailed design for the proposed scheme and to submit this for examination and approval. So far there has been no response from the group to this request. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that this scheme cannot be progressed any further until such time as the plans and design data have been received and examined.
In relation to the overall resources that are available for group water schemes, to which Deputy Finucane referred, there will clearly always be constraints; but the Deputy should not underestimate my ability and ingenuity to get the most resources I can to promote as many schemes as possible this year, including those in County Limerick.
I shall hold the Minister to that.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 31 March 1993.