asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that contract documents for North Roscommon regional water supply scheme were submitted to his Department for approval on 16 January 1980; if he will approve same immediately and treat these cases as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that the Ballinlough-Loughglynn regional scheme has reached the limit of its capacity and that this position can only be remedied when the North Roscommon scheme comes into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Roscommon County Council's proposals for this scheme must be considered in the context of the amount of capital available for water and sewerage schemes and the number of such schemes in progress, including the following schemes in progress in Roscommon: Athleague regional water supply, stage 1; South Roscommon regional water supply, stage 1; Castlerea regional water supply; Cortober Sewerage; and the schemes getting to construction, including Stage 2 of South Roscommon regional water supply and Stage 1 of Monksland sewerage scheme, for which loans totalling £930,000 have recently been sanctioned.

I am not at present in a position to say when a decision can be conveyed to the local authority on the revised contract documents for the North Roscommon regional water supply scheme, which were received in my Department in January 1980.

Could the Minister tell us when he became aware that these documents were submitted to his Department and when they were implemented?

As I said in my reply, I am not in a position at present to say when a decision can be conveyed to the local authority. I assure the Deputy that, despite how well Roscommon has been doing, there will be no unavoidable delay.

Was the Minister asked to meet a deputation from Roscommon County Council?

Not that I am aware of.

Would the Minister meet a deputation, because this is a very urgent matter?

Certainly.

12.