asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present position in regard to the extension of the water main and the sewerage scheme at Banagher, County Offaly; if he is aware of the great urgency of this matter; and what steps he will take in conjunction with the local authority to have this matter disposed of to the satisfaction of all the residents in the town.

I am informed by Offaly County Council that difficulties in relation to the source of supply for the Banagher Water Supply Improvement Scheme have not yet been finally resolved.

Contract documents for the Banagher Sewerage Scheme are under consideration in my Department. I am not yet in a position, however, to say when a decision thereon is likely to issue.

45.

asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present position about the proposed water and sewerage scheme for Oldcastle, County Meath.

Preliminary reports for water and sewerage schemes for Oldcastle are under examination in my Department.

On the latest information available to me the schemes are not regarded by the local authority as having a high priority on their water and sewerage programme.

Would the Minister say when the preliminary report was received in his Department?

On the 24th April, 1968.

Would the Minister not agree that from the 24th April, 1968 to the 5th February, 1969 is rather a long time?

Yes, it is but they have not got a high priority on the programme according to the local authority.

How would the local authorities be sure of that unless they get the Minister's decision on the figures?

The local authority have arranged the order of priority.

They have not.

Order.

Would the Minister not admit that this is just stalling by his Department and would he ask his Department to send the reply back and then Meath County Council will put it in the proper order?

The local authority arranged the order of priority and it was number ten.

46.

asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present position about the extension of a water scheme for Navan, County Meath.

47.

asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present position about stage three of the sewerage scheme for Navan, County Meath.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.

Preliminary reports for these schemes are under examination in my Department. I hope to be in a position to convey a decision thereon shortly.

Would the Minister say how long they have been in his Department?

The water scheme has been there since the 26th June, 1968; and the sewerage scheme since the 25th May, 1967.

1967. Would the Minister say where they are on the priority list?

Second and third.

The Minister is giving this as an excuse.

The decisions on these will be given shortly.

These have been in the Minister's Department since May, 1967 and not a thing has been done about them. The Minister is now trying to bluff his way out of it.

I know Deputy Tully is not interested in facts.

I am only interested in the schemes that have not yet been done and they will never be done as long as the present Minister is there.

48.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether Government grants are available for sewerage extension at Commons East and Commons West, Swords, County Dublin; and, if so, the amounts.

Subsidy at the rate of 50 per cent of the annual loan charges is payable by my Department in respect of sanitary services schemes in County Dublin, including any schemes that may be approved for the areas referred to by the Deputy.