Mortgage Arrears

Deputy Martin Ferris

Mortgage arrears and house repossessions present an increasing problem for tens of thousands of families. According to the most recent statistics, 5.7% of residential mortgages, or 44,508 mortgage accounts, are in arrears for longer than 90 days, an increase of 25,000 since 2009. Given the recent European Central Bank interest rate increases, with current levels of unemployment and wage cuts, this figure is certain to increase further, perhaps dramatically.

My party has proposed measures that could be taken to address this problem. Last year a group of respected economists urged the banks to introduce some form of debt resolution and accept part of the losses as their own. While I note the expert group on mortgage arrears did not go that far, individual members have called for similar measures. It is now time to consider writing off some of the negative equity on properties which are principal family homes where people are in arrears on mortgages that are clearly unsustainable. Mortgages should be calculated on the basis of current house values rather than the price at the time of purchase, when unscrupulous lenders gave massive mortgages to people who could not repay them. This would constitute not only a massive relief for those suffering the burden of unsustainable mortgages through no fault of their own, but it would also recognise the significant changes that have occurred in the property market and banking sector in the past four to five years.

Last Monday morning a young couple, Sharon and John-Patrick, with two young children came into my constituency office in Tralee. Several years ago they procured a mortgage to the value of €220,000 from Start Mortgages, of which they have drawn down €160,000 to build their home. However, they found it difficult to meet the repayments of €1,300 or more per month. They told Start Mortgages about their difficulties and indicated they were prepared to pay €400 per month to cover their mortgage. Last Friday in the court in Tralee Start Mortgages secured repossession of the house and the inevitable eviction of the two people concerned. That is happening throughout the country. It is happening to young couples who had employment secured loans and built their own homes. Most of those people are now in considerable difficulty. More than 90,000 people are in difficulty at this point.

A proactive approach must be taken to try to deal with this. What is happening is illogical in that people evicted as a result of the repossession of their homes by unscrupulous lenders, including the banks, inevitably find themselves on local authority housing lists. They must secure rent allowance from the HSE to rent a house and the taxpayer and the State are paying for that. We need to be imaginative and firm in how we approach this.

There are unoccupied houses throughout the country which have been taken over by the banks and mortgage lenders. I suggest State bodies, in particular local authorities, working together might be able to secure these houses by buying them at the current market value, rent them to the previous owners and give them the opportunity when the economy recovers, hopefully as a result of a progressive job creation programme when people will find work again, to meet mortgage repayments and live in their dream houses which they bought initially.

In regard to the two people about whom I spoke, one went public this morning on Radio Kerry which was inundated with calls from people throughout county who were in a similar position. Together we must stand up to sub-prime mortgage institutions which are effectively vultures. I cannot think of a word bad enough to describe them other than to say they are vultures. They penalise people even if they are a few days late with their repayments. Collectively we must stand up and say that is wrong as we must stand up to the banks. We now own the banks so we should be in a position to do everything in our power to help people in difficulty.

We must be cognisant of the reality of today. The reality is that people who purchased houses between 2004 and 2008 did so at totally inflated values. That must be taken into account in order that we can address this terrible grievance.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Brian Hayes)

I thank Deputy Martin Ferris for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to respond. It is not an exaggeration to say Irish people value the ownership of their own home. It is a deeply rooted cultural tradition and characteristic. Unfortunately, the financial crisis has created conditions in which many home owners through no fault of their own now find themselves in arrears with their mortgage repayments and at risk of losing their homes. It is time, therefore, that society through the agencies of State, should seek to assist mortgage holders in arrears in a measured and proportionate way. This is happening. There are supports available to assist mortgage holders who are in arrears with their repayments in respect of their principal private residence.

However, before considering some of the aspects of that support, I would like to point out that the level of repossessions in Ireland has been very low. The Central Bank's quarterly data series on residential mortgage arrears and repossessions show that the level of repossession activity in the courts, with respect to the primary residence of borrowers, is not high when compared with the scale of mortgage arrears pertaining.

For example, the level of home repossessions per 100,000 mortgages in the UK is more than five times greater than the Irish rate. It can also be observed that the majority of repossessions taking place are not by way of a court order but rather via voluntary surrenders and abandonments.

The supports available to assist people in arrears with their mortgage repayments in respect of their principal private residences can be grouped under four headings. The first is the mortgage interest supplement scheme. The second is the availability of advice through the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. The third is the protection to mortgage holders provided by the Central Bank's code of conduct on mortgage arrears and the fourth is lender forbearance.

The mortgage interest supplement scheme managed by the Department of Social Protection provides assistance where the mortgage relates to a person's principal private residence. It currently supports approximately 18,000 mortgage holders. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service provides a national, free, confidential and independent service operating from 53 offices nationwide. The House will be familiar with these schemes and how they operate. Rather than recount them in detail, I wish to look more closely at the code of conduct on mortgage arrears.

The code of conduct on mortgage arrears sets out how mortgage lenders must treat borrowers in or facing mortgage arrears with due regard to the fact that each case of mortgage arrears is unique and needs to be considered on its own merits. The code sets out the framework that lenders must use when dealing with borrowers in mortgage arrears or in pre-arrears. For the purposes of the code, a pre-arrears case arises where the borrower contacts the lender stating that he or she is in danger of going into financial difficulties or is concerned about going into mortgage arrears.

The code has been amended twice since it was first introduced in 2009 to provide additional protections for mortgage holders. The most recent revision of the code was published on 6 December 2010 and came into effect on 1 January 2011. Lenders are required to comply with the revised code as a matter of law but have been given a period of six months' grace, ending on 30 June 2011, to put in place some of the provisions of the code. The revised code contains a new provision on arrears charges. Lenders have been directed not to impose arrears charges or surcharge interest on borrowers who are in arrears and who are co-operating with the new mortgage arrears resolution process with effect from 1 January 2011.

The revised code also includes more detailed requirements for lenders when dealing with borrowers' arrears and financial difficulties. I have provided the Deputy with the main aspects of the code in place since 1 January 2011 and I will not rehearse them here. Many of these changes follow on from the work of the expert group on mortgage arrears and personal debt. This group produced two reports — an interim report published in July last year and a final report published in November last year. The expert group, which was chaired by Mr. Hugh Cooney, included Mr. Matthew Elderfield, head of Financial Regulation at the Central Bank, as well as other external experts and senior officials from Departments.

One of the main recommendations of the expert group on mortgage arrears and personal debt was that a deferred interest scheme should be put in place. This was intended to allow borrowers to pay at least 66% of their mortgage interest but less than 100% and defer payment of the balance for up to five years. Mortgage lenders have been requested to commit to the scheme. Lenders representing the majority of the market have already indicated their willingness to implement the expert group's proposals for a deferred interest scheme or a variation of it. These are AIB, EBS, Bank of Ireland, Irish Life & Permanent, Irish Nationwide Building Society, Springboard and Start. While the deferred interest scheme is voluntary for all lenders, those who have signed up in support of the scheme will be monitored by the Central Bank to ensure compliance.

I welcome AIB's announcement that it is examining new ways to assist those in mortgage arrears.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Joe Costello)

The Minister of State has exceeded the time.

Deputy Brian Hayes

The points raised by Deputy Martin Ferris are crucial. There is a code in place and it is the job of Government to ensure it is enforced. I accept the new scheme from the expert group in regard to parking part of the mortgage interest repayment must be monitored by the Central Bank and the Department of Finance to ensure options are available to people.

Vocational Education Committees

Deputy Nicky McFadden

In 2010 the previous Government made the decision to reduce the overall number of VECs in the country. The decision was made on the basis of recommendations from the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes, also known as an bord snip nua. However, while the report recommended reducing the number of VECs from 33 to 22, the then Government decided to reduce the number from 33 to 16. This involves the merger of certain counties, including Westmeath and Laois-Offaly and Leitrim and Roscommon with Longford. The proposed plan did not take into account a number of significant factors that highlight the negative impact such a merger would have on the day-to-day operation and longer term goals of the VECs. In November, as a Senator, I raised the matter with the former Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills. I stressed the need to ensure the configuration of the midland VECs would be Longford-Westmeath and that the headquarters would remain in Mullingar. In response to the threat of a possible merger of Laois-Offaly and Westmeath, Westmeath VEC set up a sub-committee to produce a position paper. The findings supported the VEC proposition that all existing Westmeath VEC services should be provided from the current head office in Mullingar, as well as providing services for additional clients if the need arises. I was acutely aware of this because I had been a member of the VEC since 1999.

The sub-committee based its decision on eight principal findings, including the strong geographical location. Mullingar is the centre of Ireland and is a commuter town. There are eight experienced and skilled staff, who have demonstrated extraordinary willingness to meet deadlines. The VEC has a strong record in further education. It has 12 centres and 6,227 people have benefited from the range of programmes and services. This represents one in eight of the 49,619 people who have left school in Westmeath. Some 6,122 learners are availing of aspects of FETAC learning, one of the highest per capita rates in the country. The centre has state-of-the-art ICT software, positive user experience and expertise. Westmeath VEC is the recipient of awards for innovative ideas and achievements. All courses are FETAC accredited up until level 6. There are strong third party external relations, including the Athlone Institute of Technology, Moate Community College, Athlone Community College, Westmeath County Council and the county development board. There is a growing population in Westmeath, which is important to acknowledge. Opportunities for further growth and development exist because Mullingar is part of the spatial strategy and it makes sense that the VEC is located in Mullingar.

Removal of the headquarters from Mullingar will have a serious negative impact on culture, it would be a major blow to the town and the county in terms of confidence and reputation and would lead to increased costs, retraining of unskilled staff, the disruption of services, additional software licences, an impact on services, the potential loss of capability and interference with well-developed services, the threat to the standard of education provided to adults and a dilution of services. A move would also have a serious impact on the staff, with the danger of losing key staff, their skills and capabilities. It will also have an impact on VEC effectiveness. This would lead to the diminution of local control. There will also be a financial impact, with a financial loss to Mullingar, and a negative impact on local banks, shops, hotels and ancillary services. Taking these matters into consideration, it is vital that the configuration of the Midlands VEC is Longford-Westmeath, with the headquarters located in the current head office in Mullingar. This should be done in order to continue to provide services to existing clients. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.

Deputy Brian Hayes

I thank Deputy McFadden for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, who cannot be here tonight. He asked me to acknowledge the deep interest and expertise Deputy McFadden has in this area. I refer to what the VEC sector has achieved in her constituency and elsewhere. Deputy Quinn and I are aware of her interest in this issue as a Senator and as a member of the local authority in Westmeath. We are facing challenging times as a country. That is particularly true of the education sector. We need to build on the strengths of the VEC sector in tackling these challenges.

The VEC sector is well positioned to play a key role in the transformation of our education system given its long-standing ability to respond and innovate to new challenges across society. Earlier today the Minister announced that the City of Dublin VEC will operate as the new centralised authority for administering the student grants system. This is an excellent example of the VEC sector playing its part in public sector reform.

A reconfigured VEC sector with a reduced number of VECs will provide for a more efficient deployment of resources, a very important issue in the current difficult economic environment. Equally importantly, it will provide strengthened capacity at VEC level to drive improvements in our education system. The Minister for Education and Skills has already indicated his intention to proceed with a reduction in the number of VECs.

Although the previous Government decided on the merger of particular counties, the Minister recently extended an invitation to the Irish Vocational Education Association, IVEA, to submit alternative rationalisation proposals, following the IVEA's expression of concerns regarding the specific configuration of the proposed new entities. While the Minister is open to proposals from stakeholders, this invitation should not be construed as meaning that the process of rationalisation will be slowed or diminished in any way. In parallel, the practical work needed for the restructuring is continuing. For example, departmental discussions are taking place with unions on staff related issues. No decision has been taken on where headquarters should be based. A range of factors need to be considered, including the configuration of the reduced number of VECs and the existing building stock in different VEC areas. Department officials have consulted on this issue and the Minister will be considering this and other implementation matters in due course.

In the programme for Government, the Government is committed to local devolution of administrative functions relating to maintenance, school building projects and co-ordination of support services currently carried out by principals. VEC rationalisation will enable and support such devolution and will not affect the delivery or quality of front line education provision in any way. In addition, the new VEC entities will be well positioned to bring enhanced purchasing power, through leveraging, to bear on securing value for money for schools and the wider provision of education providers at all levels of the school system.

The decision the Government will make on particular mergers and the location of the headquarters of the new entities will be driven by how we can deliver the most effective and efficient local structures to ensure high quality education outcomes at local and national level. I thank Deputy McFadden for affording me the opportunity to respond to the House on this matter. I will make sure the Minister is fully apprised of the comments made in the context of the Adjournment matter, which is of crucial significance to Deputy McFadden's constituency.

School Accommodation

Deputy Patrick O’Donovan

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise a matter concerning Scoil Naomh Iosef, Dromcollogher, County Limerick. The school is seeking support from the Department of Education and Skills for the construction of an additional room for the school. Scoil Naomh Iosef is the primary school in Dromcollogher, catering for 107 pupils. The school has five classroom teachers and two learning support teachers. There are six classrooms in the building, with one being used as a staff room and storage area. There is no general purpose room, which causes a major problem for a school trying to deliver the 1999 primary curriculum in its entirety. This is particularly difficult during inclement weather, when teachers try to include a weekly one-hour slot of physical education together with other subjects including drama, art, music and the SESE subject areas that require space for children to engage in active, exploratory learning as set out in the in the foreword to the primary curriculum. The problem is also in evidence when the school tries to deliver annual Christmas concerts, parents events, demonstrations, whole school events and other curricular needs. It is simply not an option for the school to use the community centre in Dromcollogher for these activities as it is located at the opposite end of the town.

The school's two cloakrooms have been transformed into an office and learning support room and, as a result, the children's coats are being hung in the corridors, which is hardly ideal. Scoil Naomh Iosef is like many other rural primary schools in the sense that it plays an important part in the life of the wider community. For that reason, any investment by the Department is not just an investment in the school but is an important contribution towards the social infrastructure of the parish. Earlier this evening and last night, I listened to contributions from all sides of the House urging the Government to ensure everything that can potentially be done is done for primary education. Specifically, Deputies encouraged the Minister to invest in school buildings and to reduce the State's dependance on portakabins as an alternative to permanent accommodation. The benefits of this approach — I understand there are budget limitations — are stimulation of the local economy through the construction of extensions and the modernisation of the children's learning environment, reflecting the needs of the school. As a teacher, I have seen at first hand the difference access to space and properly constructed facilities have on the learning experience. I am aware of the benefits that will accrue to Scoil Naomh Iosef if an investment of this order is made.

The school community at Scoil Naomh Iosef, Dromcollogher, is attempting to improve the physical infrastructure of its school and so be in a position to deliver the primary curriculum to its pupils. The quality of learning and teaching available in a modern school environment is partially dependent on the facilities available and it is for this reason I urge the Minister and his Department to look favourably upon the request to have this school included in any future round of funding allocation.

I pay tribute to the management, staff, parents and pupils of Scoil Naomh Iosef and wish them well in their endeavours. I again thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this matter. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's reply.

Deputy Brian Hayes

I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in schools building projects and the current position of the application for capital funding from Scoil Naomh Iosef, Dromcollogher, County Limerick.

The Government, in its programme for Government, is committed to drawing up a new national development plan that reflects Ireland's changed economic circumstances, covering the seven year period, 2012 to 2019. The plan will be based on a comprehensive study of Ireland's public investment priorities in that period. In the initial years, when resources will be most heavily constrained, the programme for Government commits to prioritising investment in a number of specific areas, including school buildings. The Government will insist that major capital projects are subjected to proper cost benefit analysis and evaluation, thereby improving future productivity and growth prospects, and that the value for money obtained is significantly enhanced when compared with the most recent period. Modernising facilities in our existing building stock as well as responding to the emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth will continue to be a significant challenge.

All applications for capital funding are assessed in the planning and building unit of the Department. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings, site capacity and so forth, leading to an appropriate accommodation solution. As part of this process, a project is assigned a band rating under published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners. Projects are selected for inclusion in the schools building and modernisation programme on the basis of priority of need which is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. A proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the band rating assigned to it. There are four band ratings, of which band 1 is the highest and band 4 the lowest. For example, band 1 projects include the provision of buildings where none currently exists but there is a high demand for pupil places, while a band 4 project provides for desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities such as a library or new sports hall. Documents explaining the band rating system are available on the Department of Education and Skills website, www.education.ie.

Scoil Naomh Iosef has an enrolment of 105 pupils as of September 2010 and enrolment has remained steady over recent years. Staffing at the school comprises a principal, four mainstream teachers and one permanent learning support teacher. The school has accommodation for each of these staff members. The application by Scoil Naomh Iosef for a major extension has been assessed and has been assigned a band 2 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects to which I have referred. I advise the Deputy that Scoil Naomh Iosef recently made another application to the Department for additional classroom accommodation. This is being assessed by officials from the Department and the school will be informed of the outcome of this application in due course.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including the proposed project at Scoil Naomh Iosef, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, however, it is not possible at this time to give an indicative timeframe for progression of the project. I can confirm to the Deputy, however, that the school was granted funding for the replacement of windows under the summer works scheme 2010 and was approved contingency funding for roof repairs in September 2010 to assist it in maintaining the fabric of the existing building.

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position regarding the school building project for Scoil Naomh Iosef, Dromcollogher, County Limerick. I will ensure the Department, in particular the building and planning unit in Tullamore, is aware of the Deputy's contribution to the House on the necessity for works at the school to be progressed as soon as possible.

Scéimeanna Uisce agus Séarachais

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach sa Teach anocht. Tá súil agam go dtabharfaidh sé eolas an dáta dom faoin gceist seo. Is scéal fada é scéal uisce na Ceathrú Rua. Bhí truailliú ann blianta fada ó shin. Réitíodh an fhadhb sin nuair a cuireadh scéim nua séarachais isteach sa gCeathrú Rua, scéim atá fós le críochnú. Bhí contúirt ann go dtarlódh truailliú eile agus tharla sé sin le gairid nuair a sceith ola isteach san abhainn agus isteach i Loch an Mhuilinn. Ag éirí as sin, tá gá le scrudú a dhéanamh cén fáth gur thóg sé chomh fada ón am a deir muintir na háite gur dhúirt siad leis an gcomhairle contae go raibh an fhadhb seo ann agus an t-am a dúirt an comhairle contae leis an bpobal nár cheart an t-uisce a úsáid. Tá sé fíor-thábhachtach go mbunóimid dea-chaidreamh arís idir an chomhairle contae agus an pobal agus go bhfaighimid amach go díreach céard a tharla i gcaitheamh an ama sin.

An mhaidin a tharla an truailliú ní raibh urlabhraí ar fáil ó Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe ar Raidió na Gaeltachta le míniú don phobal céard a bhí tarlaithe agus cén contúirt a bhain leis, nó nár bhain leis, dóibh siúd a d'úsáid an t-uisce, sula bhfuair siad an foláireamh. Ba é an trua é nach raibh an chomhairle contae in ann urlabhraí a chur ar fáil don raidió an mhaidin sin. Tá súil agam anois nach fada go mbeidh sé sábháilte uisce na Ceathrú Rua a úsaid.

I rith mo thréimhse mar Aire Comhshaoil, agus ní raibh mé ann ach scaitheamh an-ghearr, thóg mé an cheist leis an Roinn faoi cén fáth go dtógann sé an oiread sin ama ón am go gceaptar go mba cheart dul ar aghaidh le scéim uisce go dtí go dtógtar an scéim. Le fada an lá, ní raibh mé sásta go dtógann sé an oiread sin ama agus go mbíonn an oiread sin céimeanna i gceist le scéim uisce a chur chun cinn.

I gcás scéim uisce na Ceathrú Rua, tá an scéim ag dul ar aghaidh leis na cianta. Bhí sé cosúil le ping-pong go minic, an chaoi a raibh na cáipéisí ag dul suas agus anuas idir an chomhairle contae agus an Roinn. Níl mé ag cur locht ar an Aire Stáit mar tuigim go maith nach raibh sé sa Roinn, ach impím air féin agus ar an Aire díriú ar an gceist sin. I rith an achair an-ghearr a raibh mé sa Roinn, níor thuig mé ó thalamh an domhain cén fáth go gcaithfeadh innealtóirí a chuaigh ar na hollscoileanna céanna a bheith ag scrúdú obair a chéile. Feictear dom go mbeadh sé i bhfad ní b'fhearr dá dtabharfaí airgead dos na comhairlí contae, ar a laghad leis na scéimeanna measartha beag a dhéanamh, seachas an chaoi a bhfuiltear ag oibriú i láthair na huaire.

Níl aon amhras ná gurb é an t-aon réiteach atá ar fhadhb an uisce, ní hamháin ar an gCeathrú Rua ach i gceantar na n-oileán agus i gCamus, Leitir Mucú agus an taobh sin ar fad, ná scéim uisce réigiúnach Chasla. Is é sin, an t-uisce a thógáil ó Loch Ghleann Mhac Muirinn atá thuas ins na cnoic in aice le Seanadh Phéistín. Ansin, bheadh uisce glan ann sa bhfad téarma. Níl sé feiliúnach a bheith ag brath ar Loch an Mhuilinn mar tá an loch sin an-ghar do thithe i gceantair atá forbartha go mór, agus beidh sé i gcontúirt i gcónaí. Tá an rud céanna fíor faoi na foinsí uisce i gceantar na n-oileán. Níl siad feiliúnach ach oiread. Tá i bhfad an iomarca contúirte ann má táthar ag brath ar locha beaga mar fhoinse uisce, go mórmhór locha beaga atá an-ghar do thithe.

Nuair a bhí mé mar Aire chuir mé tuairisc leis an Roinn faoi dul chun cinn na scéime seo. Dúradh liom ag an am go raibh costas measta ar an scéim de thart ar €15.3 milliún agus go mbeidh an t-uisce ag teacht as Loch Ghleann Mhac Muirinn. Dúradh liom freisin go raibh an Bord Pleanala tar éis cead a thabhairt don EIS, le coinníollacha daingean. Bhí seo thar a bheith tábhachtach mar cé go raibh siad daingean ba choinníolacha iad gur féidir glacadh leo. Dúradh freisin ag an am go raibh an tuarascáil EIS, maraon leis na doiciméid chonartha, á scrúdú ag an Roinn i gComhairle le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, go raibh an cás á phlé agus go mbeadh cinneadh ar an scéim i mí na Bealtaine, nach bhfuil uainn ach coicís.

Bheinn buíoch dá bhféadfadh an tAire deimhniú go gcloífear leis an scála ama seo agus go dtabharfar an cead dul ar aghaidh. Bheinn níos buíoch fós dá ndéarfadh sé cén dáta a bheidh an cead á thabhairt. Bheinn buíoch freisin dá bhféadfadh sé a dheimhniú go mbeidh an t-airgead ar fáil le dul ar aghaidh láithreach don scéim agus leis na tairiscintí a lorg agus an scéim a thógáil. Bheinn an-bhuíoch freisin dá bhféadfadh sé a rá liom cén buille faoi thuairim atá ann anois faoi cén uair a bhféadfadh an scéim a bheith tógtha agus ag feidhmiú.

Ar deireadh, ó tharla go mbeidh an t-uisce ag teacht ó Ghleann Mhac Muirinn tá súil agam go ndéanfar cinnte go gcuirfear uisce ar fáil do mhuintir Bhaile Ghleann Mhac Muirinn, ó tharla go bhfuil daoine ar an mbaile sin nach bhfuil soláthar sásúil uisce acu. Má tá an t-uisce á thógáil sa ghleann ins na cnoic, ba cheart go mbeadh buntáiste beag ag muintir na gcnoc as an uisce, chomh maith leis na ceantair mhórthimpeall agus Conamara ar fad.

Minister of State at the Departments of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Fergus O’Dowd)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív as ucht an deis seo a thabhairt dom an cheist thábhachtach seo a fhreagairt. I ndiaidh na díospóireachta seo, beidh mé ag caint leis an Roinn ionas go mbeimid ag gabháil amárach leis na ceisteanna bunúsacha atá curtha faoi bhráid na Dála anocht ag an Teachta agus nach bhfuil freagraí iomlán dóibh sa théacs atá agam.

Tá raon cuimsitheach de bhonneagar na seirbhisí uisce nua ceadaithe do Chontae na Gaillimhe foilsithe i gcáipéis na Roinne, Seirbhísí Uisce Clár Infheistíochta 2010-2012. Tá cóip de ar fáil i Leabharlann an Oireachtais. Is é luach iomlán na gconartha atá ar bun faoi láthair agus iad siúd atá molta le linn tréimhse an chláir i gContae na Gaillimhe ná €130 milliun. Tá scéim soláthair uisce réigiúnach Chasla — Costello san áirearnh sa chlár do 2010-2012. Tá an tionscadal, faoina dtabharfaidh an chomhairle, fearas nua coiréala uisce agus uasghrádú gréasan forleathan dáilte ar chostas measta de €15.3 milliún, i measc an liosta de na conarthaí sa chontae a churfear chun cinn le haghaidh togála faoi deireadh 2012. Is soiléir go mbeidh sé críochnaithe, le chúnamh Dé, roimh deireadh 2012.

D'fhormheas an Bord Pleanála an EIS don scéim Chasla — Costello le coinníollacha. Chuir Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe cóip den EIS faoi bhráid na Roinne i mí Dheireadh Fómhair seo caite, maraon lena thuarascáil ar na coinníollacha EIS. Tá an Roinn Chomhshaoil, Oidhreacht agus Rialtais Áitiúil ag déanamh scrúdú ar an tuarascáil seo faoi láthair i gcomhar le cáipéisí conartha na comhairle le haghaidh na scéime. Tabharfaidh mé an chuid eile den fhreagra i mBéarla toisc nach bhfuil sé agam i nGaeilge. Gabh mo leithscéal faoi sin.

In regard to the leaking of heating oil from a property in Carraroe, Galway County Council has established the source of the oil leak and has taken steps to minimise the leak. These include liaising with the property owners from where the oil has leaked. The property owners are remediating their site by removing the affected soil and placing booms on the stream into which oil has seeped.

Galway County Council has also provided booms and straw baling to further restrict the seepage of oil into the source. At the water supply intake from Loughaunwillaun Lake the council have put in place a granular activated carbon filter. This filter has been operating since the middle of last week and it provides added protection to the water supply. Work is ongoing on cleansing the network of any residue. Specialist contractors were engaged to flush and clean out two reservoirs on the scheme. Daily sampling of the network and raw water is being undertaken.

Tankers of clean water have been placed throughout the affected network to provide the public with clean drinking water. All those in need of clean water are being attended to by Galway County Council staff in the area. It is liaising with the HSE to determine when a normal water supply can be resumed. Since Friday, 8 April the council, in agreement with the HSE, has eased the restrictions on the use of the water supply in Carraroe. Consumers can now use the water for washing and sanitary use.

All actions that could be taken to address the recent leaking of oil into the Carraroe water supply have been taken by the council in consultation with the HSE. On the broader issue of a new treatment plant, a decision by my Department in regard to the Casla - Costello regional water supply scheme will be conveyed to Galway County Council as soon as possible. I assure the Deputy that I will get in touch with the responsible official tomorrow to push this forward.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 14 April 2011.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 13 Apr 2011