asked the Minister for the Environment if schemes have been submitted for sanction to his Department for sewerage schemes at (i) Ashbourne, (ii) Kells and (iii) Dunshaughlin, County Meath; the dates on which they were received in his Department; and the present position.

Contract documents for Ashbourne sewerage scheme and working drawings for Dunshaughlin sewerage scheme were submitted on 17th May and 8th June, respectively, and are under consideration in my Department. The preliminary proposals for Kells sewerage scheme were submitted to my Department in March, 1975, and approved in August, 1976.

Can the Minister say if the material in his Department would enable him to give sanction to the preliminary drawings at this stage so that the matter could be proceeded with?

To give sanction now? I will consider it in the coming year. The Deputy will understand I have to wait until I know what is available, the amount of money available.

He has to wait for the budget.

I hope the fact that they are in County Meath does not mean they must remain for longer than they should remain.

I will try to deal with them as quickly as possible.

I will raise the matter again.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.