asked the Minister for the Environment if he will sanction without delay the plans and design for the Eminiska-Cloughjordan group water scheme in County Tipperary which was approved by Tipperary (North Riding) County Council as the committee of this scheme are anxious to proceed with work as soon as possible because the matter of a water supply is a major problem for many people in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tipperary (N.R.) County Council recently submitted plans and design for the Eminiska-Cloughjordan group water scheme to my Department. The council have requested approval for a special contribution to cover the cost of providing increased pipe sizes on certain sections of the scheme to cater for future development in the area. Both the design and the request for special contribution have been examined by my Department's technical advisers and further information has been requested from the county council.

Is the Minister not aware that the problem that North Tipperary council are concerned with is not future development as much as existing development where people do not have a water supply at present?

My Department in late May wrote to the council requesting further information and if they let me have that information I will have the matter looked into and I shall communicate with the Deputy also.

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