asked the Minister for Local Government the value of water and sewerage schemes in County Donegal awaiting sanction in his Department.

The value of water and sewerage schemes in County Donegal at advanced planning stage before my Department is £1 million approximately. Of these it is hoped to convey a decision on schemes to the value of about £340,000 shortly.

Can the Minister state what he means by "shortly"?

Some of them within the next couple of weeks.

Before the referendum?

The referendum does not affect it at all.

It does. The only time you can get money is before an election.

Would the Minister explain what is the difference between "awaiting sanction" and "at advanced planning stage"? The question relates to awaiting sanction.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

These are all awaiting approval.

They are all awaiting approval. They are all past the planning stage.

They are not all at the same stage. Some of them are at the contract documents stage, some at the tender stage and there are some to be carried out by direct labour.

And the money is not there, and the Minister must put them on the long finger as long as he can.

The question relates to waiting for sanction for schemes in County Donegal. Would the Minister inform the House what is the date of the earliest application made by Donegal County Council?

That is a separate question.

These are all awaiting approval.

Is it not a fact that there is at least one there for over six months?

Yes, there would be.

Is it not a fact that contractors are waiting on documents to be sent back from the Department of Local Government?

That is a separate question: I was not asked that. I was asked the value of the schemes awaiting sanction and the Deputy's colleague got a reply.

Question No. 19.

19.

asked the Minister for Local Government if plans for a sewerage scheme for Murreigh, Ballydavid, County Kerry, have been received in his Department; if he has approved these plans; and when the scheme will start.

There is no change in the position since my reply to the Deputy's question of 31st January, 1968, when I stated that there were no proposals before my Department for a sewerage scheme for Murreigh, Ballydavid, County Kerry.

20.

asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department has received plans from Kerry County Council for a sewerage scheme for Portmagee; if so, if he has approved them; and when the scheme will be under way.

Preliminary report for the Portmagee sewerage scheme was submitted to my Department on 24th May, 1967. On the 29th June, 1967, the local authority were asked to consider further certain technical aspects of the scheme.

21.

asked the Minister for Local Government when work will start on the Castlemaine sewerage scheme, County Kerry.

There has been no change in the position in relation to this scheme since my reply to the Deputy's question of 31st January, 1968

22.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received proposals from Kerry County Council for a sewerage scheme for Ventry; and, if so, if approval has been granted and money provided to carry out the scheme.

There are no proposals before my Department for a sewerage scheme for Ventry.

23.

asked the Minister for Local Government the allocations made to Kerry County Council towards sanitary services for the current financial year; and when the allocations were made.

The initial capital allocations for sanitary and miscellaneous services for 1968-69 were notified to local authorities on 21st instant.

In the case of Kerry County Council, the initial allocation amounted to £135,000.

24.

asked the Minister for Local Government when proposals for a water supply for Murroe, County Limerick were sent to him for sanction; and when work will commence on this project.

In my reply to Deputy Calleary's question yesterday, I outlined the policy adopted in regard to the selection of sanitary services works for commencement. In the case of Limerick I have recently released two urgent schemes costing about £40,000. The scheme referred to by the Deputy has not been accorded a high priority in the list of schemes submitted by the local authority.

25.

asked the Minister for Local Government when sanction will be given to a small extension of Ballyliffin water supply to serve Clougharna, Clonmany PO, Lifford, County Donegal.

On 31st May, 1967, I asked Donegal County Council to submit certain additional technical data to enable their proposals for a water supply extension to Clougharna to receive consideration. This is awaited.

Would the Minister say what is the cause of the delay?

We are waiting for these additional technical data.

Would the Minister assure the House that, as soon as it is produced, there will be no delay in his Department?

No.

The Minister will not assure the House.

No, I will not.

That is being frank anyway.

26.

asked the Minister for Local Government the cause of the delay in relation to the Ardfinnan and Dundrum regional piped water schemes, County Tipperary; when proposals for these schemes were received by him; and the nature of the proposals, stating in full the areas they are designed to serve.

27.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will accede to the unanimous wishes of South Tipperary County Council that he receive a deputation to discuss the implementation of the Ardfinnan and Dundrum regional piped water schemes in view of the widespread and urgent need for the schemes.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.

As I indicated in reply to a question by Deputy Calleary yesterday, it is necessary to conserve available capital for housing and other essential services and therefore only those schemes which are of the highest priority can be allowed to proceed at the present time.

Tenders for the schemes referred to by the Deputy were submitted to my Department on 2nd September, 1965, and on 31st August, 1965, respectively. In January last I gave the local authority the opportunity of deciding themselves which of three regional schemes, which were at advanced planning stage, including the two schemes referred to by the Deputy, they wished to undertake. The scheme selected by the local authority was the Emly regional water supply scheme. In the circumstances no purpose would be served by the reception of a deputation at this juncture.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the areas to be served by the schemes referred to in his question was given to him in the reply to Question No. 20 of the 17th February, 1966.

Does the Minister consider that all those three years waiting for the approval of the money in question is inordinate delay? Is he not aware of the terrible hardships, drudgery and financial loss to cottiers and farmers in this vast area during that time? Is he aware that the council were obliged to seek a loan from a British insurance corporation in order to implement water supply schemes? Does he not think that he is treating the council in a particularly disgraceful fashion in that he would not deign to receive a deputation?

All these schemes cannot proceed together and the council themselves selected the scheme to proceed first.