Thank you, Sir, for allowing me an opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the important matter of the north-western low level section of the Mullingar regional water supply. I wish to share my time with my constituency colleague Deputy McGrath.
Adjournment Debate. - Mullingar (Westmeath) Regional Water Supply.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Deputy McGrath comes from Ballymore and I live in Ballynacargy. Moyvore and Ballymore are only a few miles up the road from where I live. The whole area is bereft of industrial development. The absence of a water supply undoubtedly hinders the best and earnest efforts of the local community groups to initiate developments to bring worthwhile projects to this large geographical area. The current unemployment rate is approximately 25 per cent, one in four persons are out of work. Accordingly, all obstacles hindering progress in that unemployment blackspot should be removed immediately.
The immediate approval by the Minister's Department of the tenders submitted for this scheme will remove the biggest barrier to siting projects in our area. This is how industrialists perceive the appalling water supply.
There is no mains water in Ballymore or Moyvore or in the rural areas proposed to be served by the scheme which forms part of the major water scheme for the central areas of Westmeath known as the Mullingar regional water supply scheme. The overall scheme, based on Lough Owel as its source, has been divided into five sections, some of which have already been developed.
The north low level section — the section I am now requesting the Minister to approve — consists of an expansion of the trunk main systems from Bunbrosna to serve the rural area in the north-western front of the county, together with towns and villages en route, such as Ballynacargy, Moyvore and Ballymore.
I briefly refer to Ballynacargy because I live in the heart of the village and can give a first-hand account of the water supply in this area. The water supply in Ballynacargy needs to be improved in terms of quality and quantity. The source is also vulnerable — it is a river which can be subject from time to time to foreign matter being placed there. The supply is variable, with occasional breaches of drinking water regulations as set down by EU legislation.
The system for which tender approval is now sought is designed for a future population of over 3,500. It will allow for future development as well as permit the expansion of other towns and villages in the area which has been hindered by the absence of a piped supply. The scheme will also help provide the conditions necessary for the development of agriculture and industry in the area. This is a mixed farming area and a reliable water supply is vital to agriculture. I understand a group scheme is ready to start in Ballymore, but is unable to do so because of the lack of a piped system of water.
Tender reports were sent to the Minister's Department on 20 June 1991. It is almost three years since they were submitted, and it is vital that the Minister ends the uncertainty for the people of the area, and indeed Westmeath County Council, by giving approval for the tender submitted in June 1991 and allow this much needed scheme to commence without any further procrastination or delay.
It would be a major boost to these three picturesque villages, serve as the necessary impetus to get some industry into the area and help to tackle the huge unemployment problem.
I thank Deputy Penrose for sharing his time with me and compliment him on raising this important matter.
Deputy Penrose mentioned his home village of Ballynacargy. My home village is Ballymore and I wish to impress on the Minister the importance of extending a water supply to that village where there is a thriving community. It has a marvellous community centre built with little outside help. There is an excellent sewerage system in the village which I am sure is unique in Europe in that there is no mains water supply. The system is adequate for the village but it cannot be utilised to the full because of the lack of a proper water supply. That supply has been promised to the people of Ballymore and Ballynacargy for a long time and they have been told they are at the top of the priority list but, unfortunately, no work has been done. I hope the Minister has good news for us tonight.
(Wexford): I thank Deputies Penrose and McGrath for raising this issue.
The proposed scheme is designed to extend the Mullingar regional water supply to serve a large area of Westmeath currently without a public water supply; this area includes Ballynacargy, Moyvore and Ballymore. The scheme will provide a high quality water supply for public and group schemes in the area and will serve domestic, agricultural and industrial uses.
As the Deputies are aware, considerable progress is being made in County Westmeath in the provision of water and sanitary services. Contracts 2 and 3 of the Athlone main drainage scheme now nearing completion are estimated to cost £8.6 million. The Athlone scheme provides secondary treatment for the town of Athlone and environs and will eliminate the existing polluting discharges to the River Shannon and enhance it as a high class amenity. In addition, the Castlepollard sewerage scheme, costing £2.4 million, the Kinnegad sewerage scheme costing £1.2 million, and an extension of the Mullingar sewerage disposal works costing £1.95 million, have all recently been completed.
Contracts 2 and 3 of the Athlone regional water supply to extend the scheme and provide additional water storage are also at an advanced stage of planning. This high level of broadly based investment in County Westmeath is clear evidence of this Government's commitment to meeting the objectives of the environmental action programme and satisfying urgent local requirements.
The National Development Plan provides for expenditure in excess of £600 million for the period 1994-99 on environmental services. The provision for this year alone is an all-time high of £122 million.
This level of investment clearly demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to the provision of good quality drinking water and the elimination of pollution blackspots. I am aware of the need for the north western low level section of the Mullingar regional water supply. Tenders for the scheme have been submitted to my Department.
The question of funding is being considered in the context of the 1994-99 operational programme for environmental services. Preparation of this operational programme is well advanced and it will of course have to target areas of greatest need.
Deputies will understand that until the operational programme has been completed, it will not be possible to indicate the priority of specific schemes. The case which the Deputy has made will of course be borne in mind in the further consideration of these issues.