(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment when proposals from the Cavan Urban District Council for improvement in the sewerage system in Cavan town were received and when approval will be given to same.

I approved the preliminary proposals for this scheme on 6 July 1979. It is now a matter for the local authority to arrange for the preparation of contract documents for the scheme. In addition to the main sewerage scheme the local authority on 2 October sought approval in principle to the carrying out of further works prior to the main sewerage scheme. The proposal is at present under examination in my Department and I hope to convey a decision thereon to the local authority in the near future.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does this mean that the scheme cannot go ahead until the second scheme is approved?

No.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister clarify that?

The revised proposals from Cavan Urban Council came in in July 1978 and were approved in July 1979 following discussions. Contract documents have not yet been submitted. The council forwarded by letter of 2 October 1979 a proposal to carry out further works in Farnham Street at an estimated cost of £50,000. This proposal is being examined technically and a decision thereon will be issued as soon as possible. The work will be carried out independently of the main sewerage scheme.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I to understand that the council may now proceed to invite tenders for the main scheme?

Yes, but contract documents have not yet been submitted by the council.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Have they to come back to the Minister for approval?

Yes.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister deal with them as soon as he gets them?

A delay is possible.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister will appreciate that there was a delay in approving the scheme between 1978 and 1979.

By comparison with other sewerage schemes one year is not too bad.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister not think that unnecessarily long?

Does he not think that it is a lot of sewerage?