I am grateful to the Leas-Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing me to raise this important matter. I am also thankful to the Minister of State for coming in to reply in what I hope will be very favourable terms. This is currently the most important issue in my county of Laois. With regard to the fact that Portlaoise is one of the fastest growing towns in the country, there is a development gridlock because the main drainage scheme has not been approved by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. The population of Portlaoise at the last census was 9,600. It is estimated that by the year 2020, in 20 years' time, that will have risen from 9,600 to 30,000. This is phenomenal growth. Over the past two years, planning permission has issued in the town for 2,500 housing units. Currently if there are no new planning applications entered, a further 2,500 are pending or in the system. If we have no new applications for planning 5,000 units are meant to be built over the next two years. However, they will not be built because the Southern Fisheries Board has entered objections to all planning applications entered and has stated that they will continue to do so until such time as the main drainage scheme in the town is up and running. That situation is unacceptable because it means that there is development gridlock and nothing is happening. Housing units to the order of 5,000 are in a state of limbo. This is because of fish kills on the local river, the River Triogue, in the town. It is one of the top five in the league of polluted rivers throughout the country. The fisheries board have made a direct link between the polluted river, the absence of the main drainage scheme and 26 housing developments involving more than 2,500 houses, which are in limbo. Every planning application is the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, which as the Minister of State and the House knows, is overburdened. They cannot deal with the number of appeals. They recently sent out notices to every appellant in County Laois extending their length of time for dealing with the applications by a further six months.
In cases where An Bord Pleanála have granted permission for housing units in Portlaoise, there is a sting in the tail, which is that no house is to be occupied until work on the proposed sewerage plant is completed. In cases where they have allowed the houses to be built, An Bord Pleanála has entered the stipulation that no house be occupied until the main drainage scheme is completed.
I ask the Minister to fast track the main drainage scheme. Stage one is ongoing and stage two is not to be completed until the end of 2003 or early 2004 which is unacceptable. In the context of money being made available under the national development plan, which I welcome and which I know the Minister is directing under the many environment schemes, I ask that these be fast-tracked for rapidly growing towns like Portlaoise. As well as the curb on development, there is an immediate practical flooding problem in the west side of the town in the Knockmay and Harper's Lane area which is subject to flooding on a regular basis. Again the solution to this flooding problem will be an advancement on the main drainage scheme. Laois County Council is facing numerous court actions. They have already facilitated the payment of compensation to house holders affected by the flooding and consequent damage. I ask that the Minister and his departmental officials treat this matter as one of extreme urgency. There is severe pressure on the town, the existing sewerage works do not have sufficient capacity to deal with the sewage and stormwater on the west side of the town and on the north and east side of the town, planning, development and building is coming to a standstill. I am aware that the Minister's officials have some paperwork to do on this but a target date of 2003 or 2004 is insufficient. The matter must be dealt with immediately.