asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the long delay in implementing the Lough Easkey regional water scheme, County Sligo; and if he will make a statement outlining the up-to-date position regarding this urgently awaited scheme.

The contract documents for the Lough Easkey Regional Water Supply Scheme were submitted to my Department on 30 January 1980 and are at present under consideration. This scheme must be considered in the context of the amount of capital available for the overall sanitary services programme and the number of schemes in progress or getting to construction and for which adequate finance must be provided.

I am not at present in a position to say when approval may issue to the local authority.