East Inishowen water scheme
Contract documents submitted in July 1976 remain under consideration, with no approval date given because funding is needed for other approved schemes. The scheme qualified for a £53,000 FEOGA grant, but the Minister could not confirm whether it remained available or whether an EIB loan had been sought. The Deputy cited water shortages obstructing planning and employment; the Minister noted Donegal County Council ranked the scheme ninth and said its priority was for the council to decide.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position of the proposed East Inishowen water scheme, County Donegal.
Comment on this
Contract documents for this scheme have been submitted to my Department by Donegal County Council and are under consideration at present. In view, however, of the large number of fully approved schemes in progress or getting to construction for which adequate finance must be provided, I cannot say at this stage when I will be in a position to approve the contract documents for the East Inishowen scheme.
Comment on this
Could the Minister of State tell me when the contract documents were sent to the Department and also whether an EEC FEOGA grant was approved and, if so, for what amount and in what year? Also, has the scheme been put forward for a European Investment Bank loan?
Comment on this
I think that is three questions. First of all, the contract documents were submitted as far back as 23 July 1976. Secondly, the scheme qualified for £53,000 grant from the FEOGA fund. What was the Deputy's third question?
Comment on this
Is the amount of grant that has been approved still available or has the time run out for the pick-up of that grant?
Comment on this
I do not know the answer to that question. I will get the details for the Deputy and write to him directly on it.
Comment on this
In view of the long delay in approving or sanctioning this scheme is the Minister aware that in that area there is a grave shortage in relation to water and also that many applications are with Donegal County Council for planning approval which cannot be granted due to no water being available? This in turn is creating a problem in relation to employment in an area which has a very high unemployment record as was indicated by another Minister in answer to a previous question. Would the Minister of State consider at this stage that after seven years it is time that at least this scheme should be brought to the top of the pile as far as Donegal County Council are concerned?
Comment on this
I hesitate to interfere in the internal affairs of Donegal County Council, but I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that Donegal County Council have listed this scheme as only ninth in their order of priority. The question of priority spending within each local authority is first and foremost the responsibility of the local authority. If the Deputy is concerned, as obviously he is, then it would appear that the most effective way he can effect that is to get it reverted in the order of priorities within Donegal County Council.