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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Williamstown (Galway) Sewerage Scheme.

I thank the Minister for taking this matter. On 10 June 1993 I raised in an Adjournment debate the problems faced by the people of Williamstown, County Galway. At that time they were frustrated and angry that 70 families had to contend with a bad domestic sewerage scheme, widespread pollution and nauseating smells. There were definite health hazards in the village. Recently the local doctor had an in-depth analysis carried out which showed that there is widespread and dangerous pollution in the village.

At that time Galway County Council, the Western Health Board and the Department of the Environment acknowledged the necessity to have a proper treatment plant installed and all the necessary land had been acquired by the county council. The new design plans encompassed two areas of the village that had originally been left out and a better outfall was identified.

Many Ministers for the Environment over the years met deputations on this matter and it appeared that on every occasion a favourable reply was given. I was told by the Minister on 10 June 1993 that in the case of Williamstown a preliminary report for a sewerage scheme to serve around 50 houses was approved in March 1987 at an estimated cost of £331,000. I was told that Galway County Council gave an updated estimate of £592,000 in April 1992. I was also informed that the contract documents for the scheme were submitted to the Department in September 1992. The Minister stated in his reply: "It is clear from the contract documents submitted that the county council has expanded the scope of the scheme to serve around an additional 15 premises and the route of the outfall sewer has been amended and extended". I was informed that these additions and amendments, which were not approved by the Department of the Environment, were being considered at that time.

The information emanating from the Department in June and July last year was that Galway County Council costings were out of order and that the new extensions and outfall points resulted in a cost that was unacceptable to the Minister. This could only have been a red herring because nobody in their mature minds could expect to install a sewerage scheme of this size for £500,000. The Department should not have been surprised given the extent of the scheme. All the communications by the people came to nought, and Williamstown is still without its sewerage scheme.

When the Department did not include this project in the 1994 Estimates a commitment was given to the people that it would be included — a new story emanated, that the real reason it was not to go ahead in 1994 was that Galway County Council did not give it priority. This is another red herring by the Minister and the Department. Galway County Council afforded this project the same high priority it has given over a number of years. It wants to see the Williamstown sewerage scheme constructed. If it did not, why would it keep updating the cost, as it did in April 1992? Why would it submit to the Department contract documents for the scheme in September 1992? This suggestion is disingenuous and I nail it on the head.

I want a straight answer — what priority is given to Williamstown sewerage scheme by the Department of the Environment? The Minister knows what is required, he knows the cost and the contract documents are in order. The time for talking is over. On behalf of the people of Williamstown. I ask the Minister to give me a straight answer to that question. I convey, on behalf of these people, their absolute disgust about the way they are being treated. They believe, as I do, that it is past time for the sewerage scheme to start. It is time for the Minister to get off the fence and state clearly the priority that his Department gives to Williamstown sewerage scheme. If the scheme is given the priority it should have — and which Galway County Council believes it should have — Williamstown will have its sewerage scheme shortly.

, (Wexford): I thank Deputy Connaughton for raising this issue. The Deputy will know that the Minister is familiar with the background to the Williamstown sewerage scheme as he met representatives of the local action group on a number of occasions in recent times. Representations have also been made to him on an ongoing basis by Deputy Michael Kitt and the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Treacy.

Deputy Connaughton will also know that the cost of this scheme went from £330,000 in 1987 to over £1 million today. This amounts to a unit cost of around £15,400 for each of the 65 premises served. On the face of it, this is a very expensive scheme for a village of this size. The Minister is aware, however, that there are certain technical difficulties to be overcome with regard to the outfall and that this factor has added greatly to the overall cost. The fact still remains that cost increases of the magnitude experienced with the Williamstown scheme have implications for the overall funding programme of schemes generally and militate against scope which the Minister might have to approve additional new works.

Galway County Council has fared very well in recent years with regard to the level of funding provided by the Department of the Environment for water and sewerage schemes throughout the country. Last year, the Minister allocated around £5.6 million to Galway County Council, the highest allocation ever for the county. So far this year, he has allocated a further £5.2 million for water and sewerage scheme development in County Galway.

A number of major environmental projects for Galway city and county was recently approved for assistance under the Cohesion Fund. These include two very important projects in the county area: Tuam regional water supply scheme costing over £21 million and Oranmore sewerage scheme costing £6.8 million. It is intended that construction work will commence on these schemes later this year. The Minister also intends to submit further Cohesion Fund applications for additional water and sewerage schemes for County Galway in the coming months.

Galway County Council has a long list of schemes at various stages of planning. The council estimates the cost of these schemes at well over £100 million for the whole county. In the short term, it simply will not be possible to afford all these schemes within the water and sanitary services programme.

The Minister wants to assure Deputy Connaughton, however, that he would like to progress the Williamstown scheme as soon as possible. He is aware of the deep concern in the village that sewage collection and treatment should be provided at the earliest opportunity. However, having regard to the high cost involved, the scheme can best be progressed on the basis that EU co-financing can be secured. The Minister cannot give a definite undertaking at present on the Williamstown scheme. He intends, however, to review it in the context of the operational programme for environmental services, now at an advanced stage of negotiation. He will then be in a better position to decide the most appropriate means of progressing the Williamstown scheme.

I assure Deputy Connaughton and the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Treacy, that they will be kept informed of progress.

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