asked the Minister for Local Government the present position of the proposed piped water scheme for Ardfert, County Kerry.

This scheme has been fully approved by me and I have sanctioned the raising of a loan to finance it.

76.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state, in respect of the Dundrum water scheme, if and when he received an application from Tipperary South Riding County Council for permission to borrow another £75,000; and whether he has as yet given sanction to this borrowing.

A loan of £175,000 to finance this scheme was sanctioned by me on the 18th ultimo. This is £75,000 in excess of the amount originally proposed to be borrowed.

77.

asked the Minister for Local Government the date on which the proposal for the Bayview, Passage West, County Cork, sewerage scheme was submitted to his Department for sanction; and when approval may be expected.

78.

asked the Minister for Local Government what the position is in regard to the proposed sewerage scheme for Bay View Cottages, Passage West, County Cork.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together. As the local authority have not furnished an integrated priority list of water supply and sewerage schemes in planning in their area, I cannot indicate at this stage when a decision will be given on this proposal which was submitted to my Department on 17th February, 1969.

79.

asked the Minister for Local Government when his Department intend to sanction the regional water supply to Trim, Castlerea, County Roscommon, which is part of the Ballinlough, Cloonfad regional scheme.

Having regard to the necessity to conserve available capital for housing and essential services, only schemes of high priority can be allowed to proceed at present. On this basis, urgent sections of the Ballinlough/ Cloonfad/Loughglynn regional water supply scheme, to the extent of £285,000 have been approved for commencement to date. I am not in a position to say when a decision on the extension to Trien will issue.

Question No. 80 postponed.

81.

asked the Minister for Local Government when it is intended to sanction the Pettigo sewerage scheme, County Donegal; and if he will make a full statement on the matter.

This is a joint scheme to be carried out by two local authorities involving the execution of a formal legal agreement concerning the apportionment of the cost of construction and maintenance.

I am awaiting confirmation that the legal agreement has been finalised. When this has been done, I will have the question of approval of the tender and loan for the scheme dealt with immediately.

82.

asked the Minister for Local Government when the application for the extension of Ardcarne water supply and sewerage to Drishogue, Boyle Road, Carrick-on-Shannon was received from Roscommon County Council; and what the present position is regarding same.

Proposals for the water supply scheme were received in my Department on 17th December, 1968. On the basis of the information available to me the scheme is not regarded by the local authority as having a high priority in their sanitary services programme. I have received no proposals for a sewerage extension to serve Drishogue.

83.

andMr. Cowen asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction the proposals for stage 1 of the Edenderry sewerage scheme, County Offaly.

Contract documents for this work were received in my Department on 28th January, 1971. A decision will issue to the local authority as soon as possible.

84.

andMr. Cowen asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received a proposal for the extension of a group water scheme at Sharavogue, Birr, County Offaly.

No formal proposal for a group water supply scheme at Sharavogue has been received in my Department. I understand, however, that the possibility of serving five houses and a school in this area by way of an extension of Brosna group water supply scheme is being examined locally.

What are the possibilities of getting this extension in view of the fact that it is only a short distance up the road from where the pipes start?

When the proposals come before my Department they will be favourably considered. It is only a small extension. I think we can facilitate them.

85.

asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the falling value of money, he will take steps to increase the present figure of £350 per house subsidy payable in the case of public water supply schemes.

There is no subsidy limit based on a unit cost per house in the case of water supply schemes. While the figure of £350 per house capital outlay is used as a guideline, proposals involving higher capital outlay are not automatically rejected. Other factors are taken into consideration in assessing the merits of a particular proposal such as the relative importance and urgency of the scheme and the possibility of piped water being provided by group scheme.

86.

asked the Minister for Local Government what the position is in regard to Kinnity, County Offaly, sewerage scheme; and when he expects to be in a position to sanction this very necessary scheme.

87.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he has yet received plans regarding the water extension for the houses along the Kilcormac road, in Kinnity village, County Offaly; and when he expects to be in a position to sanction same.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

Extensions to the Kinnity water supply and Kinnity sewerage scheme were originally designed to be carried out as one project. Contract documents for the work have been the subject of discussions and correspondence with the local authority. The sewerage proposal is not regarded by the local authority as having a high priority in their sanitary services programme but I understand that they now intend to have the water extension referred to by the Deputy carried out by direct labour and that separate proposals for this work will be submitted to me shortly.

I am thankful to the Minister for his reply in regard to the water extension and I hope this work will be carried out soon as it is urgent but would he be able to go somewhat further in his reply in regard to the sewerage scheme? I understand that the county engineer sent up proposals to the Department and that this scheme was turned down. I should like to know why it was turned down.

The local authorities are obliged to submit priority lists to us and we will not be inclined to sanction a scheme such as this to which the local authority has not given a very high priority, ahead of schemes which they have told us should, in their estimation, be done first.

Would the Minister be in a position to let me know where the scheme is?

I understand it is about No. 10 in the sanitary services priority list.

I hope when it comes up again the Minister will do what he can in regard to it.

88.

asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department have approved of a sewerage scheme for Tubbercurry, County Sligo.

89.

asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department have approved of a water scheme for Tubbercurry, County Sligo.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

Contract documents for a sewerage scheme for Tubbercurry were approved by my Department in May last. I understand that the work has not been advertised for tender due to difficulties encountered in regard to the acquisition of land necessary for the scheme. As regards the water supply scheme my Department are awaiting submission of contract documents which it is understood will be available shortly.

90.

asked the Minister for Local Government the up-to-date position regarding the Ballina water supply scheme; and when work on it will be undertaken.

Contract documents for the scheme for the improvement of the water distribution system in Ballina were approved on 20th July, 1970. Contract documents for a separate scheme for the augmentation of the supply to the town were approved on 14th ultimo. I am not in a position at this stage to say when work on the schemes is likely to commence.

91.

asked the Minister for Local Government the position regarding the proposed water supply for the town of Tuam, County Galway.

Contract documents for this scheme have been submitted by the county council to my Department and are being examined.