asked the Minister for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to issue approval for the sewerage scheme for Union Hall, County Cork.

Having regard to the necessity to conserve the available capital for the schemes of high priority, I cannot say when I will be in a position to approve of Cork County Council's proposals for this scheme which appears to have been given a low priority by the council.

Can the Minister give me any indication at all, for the benefit of the people of Union Hall, when this scheme will be sanctioned?

It is placed 14 on the priority list by Cork County Council for a start and is not mentioned in their five-year programme, for 1977 to 1981 for water and sewerage schemes. They obviously do not place it very high on the priority list. Perhaps they would revise the list.

Will the Minister not sanction the scheme until such time as the scheme attains a high priority on the local authority list?

This has always been the pattern followed in the Department. Cork County Council have not placed it very high on the priority list for some reason or other.

Am I right in assuming that the Minister will not take any decision unless it is based on a recommendation from the local county council? Am I to understand from what the Minister said that he is unwilling in all cases to exercise his own decision-making powers?

No, it is not what the Deputy should understand.

Can the Minister clarify the point for somebody who is not a member of a county council? At what stage will the Minister take action on his own initiative in regard to this scheme?

In view of the Deputy raising the matter I am prepared to have a further look at it but the fact that it is only 14 on Cork County Council's list is not helpful to me.