Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 17 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Mr. Deasy

I regret the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is not present because it is a matter for the Minister to change Government policy in this area. I hope the Minister of State will convey my message to him. There is insufficient money for sewerage schemes and treatment plants, which now go hand in hand. One cannot simply pump sewage into rivers or the sea. There is a dire need for a significant amount of money to be provided annually for sewerage schemes and treatment plants for small towns and villages such as Cheekpoint.

I have repeatedly tabled parliamentary questions on this subject in relation to Cheekpoint to which I have got the same reply, that only a few million pounds are provided annually in this regard for the whole country. That means hundreds of villages are waiting for the provision of sewerage schemes and treatment plants. That type of facility should be provided and there should be a reasonable chance of it being provided within a reasonable period.

For the past 30 years people from Cheekpoint have requested that a sewerage scheme be provided for the village. All types of resolutions have been passed at county council meetings, consultants have submitted reports and as long ago as 1981 a preliminary report was submitted to the Department of the Environment for approval. On 2 July 1985 contract documents were submitted to the Department of the Environment. In 1988 approval of the contract documents was received from the Department along with a direction that tenders should not be invited until specific approval to do so was given by the Department.

Cheekpoint is a beautiful village at the confluence of the three sister rivers, the Barrow, the Nore and the Suir. The development of the village and the surrounding area is inhibited due to the lack of a sewerage scheme and treatment plant. That is a disgrace because it is a beautiful area that is ripe for development. There are two general septic tanks for council schemes and private individuals, but other than those the people are depending on individual septic tanks. It is not desirable to have septic tanks in such a scenic area which attracts many visitors, especially in the summer months. There are also two high class restaurants in the area.

I would like the Minister to give me and the people of Cheekpoint some hope that a sewerage scheme and a treatment plant will be provided to enable orderly development of the village and its surrounding areas so that houses can be built. It is not fair that applicants are refused planning permission because the area does not have a sewerage scheme and a treatment plant. Another problem is soakage in the area is not good. Therefore, the area is dependent on the provision of a scheme. Eventually the population will steadily grow older and the area will stagnate. Schools may be in danger of closing due to lack of numbers. It is not possible to plan ahead if the necessary facilities are not in place for proper development. I ask the Minister to give some hope that a scheme will be provided for the village within a reasonable period and I would appreciate if he would indicate a timescale for its commencement.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

I thank Deputy Deasy for raising this matter. I would like to outline the broader picture in relation to investment in water and sewerage services before I deal with the specific issue he raised.

The 1998 Water and Sewerage Services Capital Work Programme, details of which were published on 2 February last, is by far the largest in the history of the State. Under the programme, investment in water and sewerage services will amount to almost £185 million in the current year. That represents an increase of just over 13 per cent on expenditure during 1997 and a 50 per cent increase on the 1996 figure.

Mr. Deasy

How much of that is for small towns and villages?

Mr. D. Wallace

Funding at such an unprecedented level clearly demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving the country's environmental infrastructure and to meeting the existing and projected needs arising from residential, economic and other development. The investment programme for 1998 will see some 61 major public schemes starting construction with a final estimated value of over £470 million.

I am pleased to be able to state that County Waterford is benefiting from this substantial level of investment. The programme covers schemes in Waterford with a final value amounting to £53.87 million. They include interceptor sewers 3 and 4 of the Waterford main drainage scheme, the east Waterford water supply scheme and the Waterford city water conservation project, all currently at construction. Provision has also been made for the advancement through planning of the Tramore and Dungarvan sewerage schemes as well as the treatment works and interceptor sewer 1 of the Waterford main drainage scheme. In those circumstances it can be fairly said that Waterford city and county are getting their fair share of the available funding. Those major schemes will greatly contribute towards removing existing development constraints in Waterford and will provide the necessary infrastructure to support tourism and other economic sectors.

Turning to the specific proposal raised by Deputy Deasy, I can inform him that contract documents for stage one of the Cheekpoint sewerage scheme have been submitted to the Department.

Mr. Deasy

They were submitted in 1985.

Mr. D. Wallace

However, the 1998 national water services investment programme to which I referred shows the very high level of existing commitments which have to be funded and in view of the large number of unapproved schemes countrywide before the Department it is not possible to say when this proposal will be approved.