asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction the tender for the proposed water and sewerage scheme for Youghal, County Cork.

I am not in a position to indicate when a decision can be given to the local authority regarding the tenders submitted for this scheme.

37.

asked the Minister for Local Government the proposals before his Department from Donegal County Council for East Inishowen regional water supply scheme; and if he will make a statement in the matter.

There are no proposals before me.

38.

asked the Minister for Local Government when he will finance the north-east Wicklow water scheme, the details of which have been submitted to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The question of providing finance for a sanitary services scheme does not arise until a tender for the works has been accepted.

The position in regard to the scheme referred to is that contract documents are under consideration in my Department.

When were the contract documents received in the Department?

It started on 7th September, 1966, and contract documents were received on 26th May, 1975. From 1966 until 1975 they were being tossed around from one side to the other.

The Minister is aware that there are hundreds of families without water in this developing area.

Even at national level, it is a very high priority.

The Minister estimates he will be able to come up with the £300,000 for this scheme?

I did not say that. That is not the figure.

Would the Minister be able to give me the figure?

No.

Why?

The county council will give it to the Deputy.

That is the figure I got from the county manager. Would he like to comment on that figure of £300,000?

I have no comment to make.

39.

asked the Minister for Local Government the proposals, if any, to have the sewerage discharge point removed from the harbour in Bray.

The preliminary report for the Bray sewerage scheme envisaged the removal of the discharge point of the sewerage from the harbour in Bray. A number of alternative solutions have been considered but there are no firm proposals before my Department at present.

Will the Minister agree that the reply is almost identical with that given to me eight months ago?

Yes.

Nothing has been done in eight months.

Talk to the local authority about it. It is not my fault.

Is the Minister considering a possible link-up with the terminal and the new workings?

No, but the people who are planning the scheme may be.

Has the Minister no proposal for stage two of this scheme?

The proposal does not come from me. It comes from the local authority. I have not a clue as to what has to be done out there. The local authority are the people who will send me in their proposal.

The Minister has stated he has no proposal from any urban council on this matter.

May I read the answer again?

The preliminary report for the Bray sewerage scheme envisaged the removal of the discharge point of the sewage from the harbour in Bray. A number of alternative solutions have been considered but there are no firm proposals before my Department at present.

Who is considering the alternatives?

Obviously the local authority.