asked the Minister for the Environment when it is proposed to provide an adequate water supply for the residents of the Hill of Howth; and when he proposes to make money available to Dublin Corporation in order that they may carry out the necessary works.

My Department conveyed approval to Dublin Corporation's preliminary proposals for the Howth water supply improvement scheme on 21 December 1982. The corporation were invited to submit detailed plans for a first stage comprising a pumping station at Dungriffen, a new rising main and a new reservoir at Bailey Green. The question of a financial commitment will not arise until the detailed plans are submitted by the corporation.

Is the Minister aware that the people on Howth summit were without water for two or three days weekly during last summer? Is he aware that there is a constant danger of gorse fires in the area and that without a proper water supply the fire brigade are unable to attend and are hampered in their efforts to contain such fires? In the light of that I ask the Minister to make available to Dublin Corporation, who tell me they cannot proceed with the work without money, the moneys to start the work.

I would be very happy to assist the Deputy and Dublin Corporation but we need to know precisely what Dublin Corporation propose to do before we can make commitments in relation to money. I suggest constructively to the Deputy that as soon as Dublin Corporation are in a position to develop their proposals we will meet them.

Have the corporation submitted their final proposals to the Department yet?

That is not the information I have.

We cannot hear the Minister of State. I have a great interest in Howth.

The preliminary report on the Howth water supply was only submitted to the Department on 16 September 1982.

The Minister of State said it was submitted on 16 September. Was that the complete works proposal?

The information I have is that the preliminary proposal was submitted in September and it was approved by the Department of the Environment on 21 December. The ball is now back in the court of Dublin Corporation to develop that proposal and to get it properly costed.

Has the Minister of State any indication as to when the works are likely to begin and when they could be completed? I agree with Deputy Cosgrave that this matter is very urgent, that there have been some very serious fires and great shortages of water there. If the time scale looks like being very long would the Minister of State consider taking interim measures to deal with this matter on an emergency basis because this is a very serious matter?

The Department indicated to Dublin Corporation, when they granted their approval on 21 December, that as an interim measure Dublin Corporation should proceed with the first stage of the development, which would result in providing the kind of relief the Deputy is talking about. We are encouraging Dublin Corporation to proceed on those lines. The ball is essentially now back in the court of Dublin Corporation.

The Minister of State did not answer the other part of my question which was if he has any indication of the time scale for the first stage?

It really depends on Dublin Corporation getting the necessary documents together. I do not have that information in my brief.

In view of the seriousness of the matter would the Minister of State consider informing Dublin Corporation that he is prepared to look sympathetically at the matter in view of the difficulties that might arise on their part?

I will certainly look at that.

12.

asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding Derrybeg/Bunbeg sewerage scheme, County Donegal.

Donegal County Council's preliminary proposals for Derrybeg/Bunbeg sewerage scheme submitted to my Department on 19 January 1983 are under examination. I am not at present in a position to say when a decision thereon will be conveyed to the local authority.

In view of the terrain and the scattered conurbation type of development that relates to this particular area of Derrybeg, Bunbeg and Gweedore in general would the Minister of State's Department consider implementing this scheme in two or three stages over a few years, or is it intended that it will be one complete stage from beginning to end?

My understanding is that this is a preliminary proposal which has been assessed within the Department but that ultimately it is the local authority, of which I believe the Deputy is a member, who will determine the order of priority and how it is to be implemented.

13.

asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to approve the contract documents for the Ballybofey/Stranorlar sewerage scheme, County Donegal.

The approval of this scheme must be considered in the context of the overall capital resources available to finance sanitary services and the need to conserve capital for schemes of the highest priority. The contract documents for this scheme are under consideration in my Department, but I cannot say when I will be in a position to convey a decision on them to the local authority.

In view of the very urgent nature of this scheme and that it can be established that raw sewage is going into the River Finn in the towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar can the Minister of State not agree to give this particular scheme some priority?

I accept that the documents have been in the Department for a very long time but I draw to the Deputy's attention the fact that the scheme is listed as No. 15 in the order of priority in Donegal County Council.

Is the Minister of State aware that the sewage in this area runs directly into the River Finn and is causing considerable damage to fish stocks?

I am not so aware and I would be very concerned if that is the case. I would be very happy to talk to the Deputy about how we can move on this thing which has obviously been in the Department for some time. If the members of Donegal County Council are anxious to contain it and are prepared to give it the kind of priority the two Deputies seem to signal it requires, then I would be more than happy to meet directly with them and discuss how best it can be implemented.