I thank you, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to raise this important matter. It is almost 12 years since this scheme was first mooted and more than five years since local contributions were collected from the people concerned.
The scheme entails the provision of a water supply to 26 householders in the Caheragh region of west Cork. Numerous representations were made to the Department of the Environment during that period to get a financial allocation to carry out the work in question. It appears the requests have fallen on deaf ears. Cork County Council have agreed to provide their special allocation towards the upgrading of the scheme. Could the Minister, therefore, explain why it has taken so long for his Department to provide the financial contribution which is necessary to commence the scheme?
In view of the billions of pounds we are told are earmarked for this country from the EC Structural and Cohesion Funds, is it possible for the Minister to give an assurance that this group water scheme application will receive favourable consideration from his Department? Could the Minister give a definite commitment that finance will now be forthcoming in the 1994 Estimates, thereby alleviating the serious plight of the people concerned?
On 10 March 1992 I tabled a question to the Minister for the Environment asking him when his Department would approve and issue finance for the commencement of work on the Caheragh-Drimoleague group water scheme. He replied that having regard to the existing level of commitments under the group water scheme programme he was not in a position to indicate when there would be a decision on the Caheragh-Drimoleague scheme. To a further question which I tabled on Wednesday 2 June 1993 asking the Minister for the Environment the amount of finance allocated by his Department for group water schemes in 1993 and the amount allocated to each county council, the Minister replied that a sum of £2.5 million was provided for group water scheme grants in 1993 throughout the whole country and that these grants are mainly administered on a national basis and paid directly to the trustees of the group schemes.
It is unfair of the Minister to hold up to ransom those farmers and private householders in the Caheragh area. I hope the Minister will give a firm commitment to make finance available in the 1994 Estimates. The Minister, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe and I attended a very heated meeting in Caheragh hall the other night and we were told that if the money was not forthcoming this year further action would have to be taken. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry has already given a commitment to provide finance. I hope the Minister for Finance will copperfasten that tonight.
