Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1992

Vol. 132 No. 17

Adjournment Matters. - Matters of Concern to Members.

Mr. Cosgrave

I welcome this opportunity to mention a matter which I raised last week in relation to the Adjournment Debate but, unfortunately, the Department of the Environment saw fit to kick to touch in relation to it. The Leader of the House knows I am referring to the problem of the water supply to the people of the County and city of Dublin during the summer months.

Because so many new houses are being built, the demands on the reservoir system are excessive, but nothing has been done to provide a backup water supply. Water pressure is also a problem in some areas and if there were a fire, water pressure would be dangerously low for fire fighting. I would ask for a review to ensure the availability of an adequate supply of water all year round to avoid the local authority engineers having to issue warnings during dry spells that water may be cut off or rationed. That leaves many people in very difficult circumstances. I ask the Leader to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for the Environment. I am sure this is not just a south city problem. I hope he will be as concerned about this as the Members of this House are.

Éamon Ó Cuív

I would like to raise the need for the Teagasc headquarters to be moved into a rural setting. There is something contradictory in having the headquarters of the rural organisations — Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann, as it was, and Teagasc — based in Dublin city. As one who comes from Dublin 4, I would like to see Teagasc move as I did, to the West, and I would suggest a very suitable area where the Department owns plenty of property — Athenry, County Galway.

Service jobs are the big growth area in employment and it is very important that the State should follow a comprehensive policy in ensuring that each region gets its fair share of these jobs. Athenry is more than suitable for such a project because it is on a main rail line to Dublin, it is near main roads and it is near Galway city. I believe it would be an attractive location for the headquarters of a rurally based organisation.

Mar sin ba mhaith liom go smaoineofaí ar cheannáras Theagaisc a athrú ó cheantair Bhaile Átha Cliath siar go Baile Atha an Rí, Contae na Gaillimhe agus go bféadfaí os cionn 100 post breise a chuir ar fáil sa cheantar sin.

Mr. Neville

I call on the Minister for the Environment to immediately confirm the proposals submitted by Limerick County Council to review speed limits in the county. These proposals were submitted to the Department of the Environment on 4 March 1991 and, to date, the council has not received approval to the revised speed limits.

These proposals were submitted after long consideration by the Garda Síochána in County Limerick, by the engineering section of Limerick County Council and by the members of the council who, almost one and a half years ago, adopted the proposals as outlined. It is difficult to understand why it is necessary in the first place for the Department of the Environment to involve itself in a matter of such local interest when all those concerned on the ground are in favour. It is much more difficult to understand why a decision cannot be taken by the Department after some 15 months. If local government is to have any semblance of power, such issues should be decided at local level.

Some 23 areas require alteration due to changed circumstances. Many of these are causing extreme concern to the people in the areas. In one of the villages, Kilcornan, there is extreme concern due to the increased traffic on the N69, the coast road, and the extreme danger to children entering and leaving the local primary school. Extensive changes are also required at Abbeyfeale, Adare, Askeaton, Athea, Drumcollogher, Glin, Kilmeady, Pallaskenry, Patrickswell, Rathkeale, Ballylanders, Ballyorgan, Monegay Strand and Tournafulla. I would ask the Minister for the Environment, without delay, to sanction the requests by Limerick County Council for the above extensions.

Mr. Fitzgerald

I ask the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications to provide access to Lough Doon (Pedlar's Lake) at Conor Pass, Dingle, County Kerry. This lake is approximately one mile beyond the car park at the top of Conor Pass on the Castlegregory side. It is a sparkling clear seven acre, 10,000 year old corrie lough. The distance from the carpark is approximately 200 metres and it is a 30 degree climb from a small waterfall at the carpark.

This lake has always been a popular stopping point for visitors and there is no doubt that it has a high amenity value. It is my opinion that in line with the recommendations of An Foras Forbartha an environmentally friendly footpath should be constructed from the carpark to the lake. An Foras Forbartha recommended that utilisation could be encouraged by making a rough path into the corrie and describing the area on a plaque.

In early 1990 the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board, in co-operation with the local Dingle and District Anglers Association stocked the lake with rainbow trout; 2,650 one year old rainbow trout and 74 two year old rainbow trout were put into the lake. This venture was a great success and over the three month trial period, attracted 428 anglers from all parts of the world — New Zealand, Hong Kong, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, France, the USA, Germany, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and almost every county in Ireland. Anglers paid over £3,200 in fishing permits during the trial period. However this venture had to be discontinued due to problems of access to the lake and objections from an Taisce.

I now ask the Minister to provide a couple of thousand pounds to construct this environmentally friendly footpath to the lake and make access easier for those going to the lake and, in the future, to resurrect the much needed angling facility which was praised by all, except An Taisce and a small number of individuals who were also members of An Taisce.

The Seanad adjourned a 8.55 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 4 June 1992.