I am grateful to the Chair for allowing me to raise this matter. For some time I have been making representations to Cavan County Council and the Department of the Environment and Local Government on the need to provide a sewerage scheme in Stradone village. The preliminary report is with the Department at present for approval to enable the project to proceed to contract document stage and I am anxious that approval is given at the earliest possible date and that the project advances to tender stage as rapidly as possible.
Stradone village is six miles east of Cavan town and is an obvious area for development. However, such development is contingent on the provision of basic infrastructure. The Chair will be aware that villages in the hinterland of county towns develop and a vigorous policy must be pursued by the Department of the Environment and Local Government to ensure that villages and smaller towns have the basic infrastructure to enable housing and other developments to take place.
Members are aware that a spread of housing development is necessary to aid rural regeneration and renewal. It also relieves pressures on the housing market in urban areas. Since June 1997 the Government has invested substantially in sewerage and water schemes and the national development plan, which will come into effect in January, will show a record level of investment in such schemes. This investment is necessary to enable housing, social and economic development to take place.
Earlier this year the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment and Local Government introduced a specific scheme for investment in water and sewerage schemes in smaller towns and villages. That was most welcome and will be one of the most beneficial schemes ever introduced by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. The Chair will be aware that we in Cavan were fortunate that the Minister for Environment and Local Government approved sewerage schemes in Lough Gowna and Redhills under that scheme. That investment will protect the environment in those villages and enable further development to take place.
Stradone village is in the parish of Laragh, which has a particularly active community spirit. The Laragh Area Development Group Limited has progressed a proposal to provide eight housing units under the Government's voluntary housing scheme. That scheme is actively promoted by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the Minister of State, Deputy Molloy. I compliment the Laragh Area Development Group on its initiative in providing much needed housing on a voluntary basis. That group also has a proposal for a major refurbishment of Stradone community centre. These developments will be progressed much quicker with the provision of the basic infrastructure – the sewerage scheme. Fianna Fáil Councillor Gerry Murray and other Fianna Fáil organisation members in that parish have constantly highlighted the need for this scheme and they have also pointed out the potential of Stradone for development, from both a public and private housing perspective.
Rural regeneration is particularly contingent on the development of smaller towns and villages. We will have rural renewal with vibrant villages, but it is necessary that the basic infrastructure is put in place in villages where many services are already in place, such as primary schools, post offices, shops and churches. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Government and local authorities to have a proper spread of housing development when the basic infrastructure is provided in small towns and villages. I hope the Minister of State can convey my wishes and those of Deputy O'Hanlon that this scheme should be progressed as rapidly as possible.
