asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding the proposed Oranmore sewerage scheme, County Galway; and whether he has now decided that the effluent will be discharged without treatment.

Galway County Council have indicated that a further revised preliminary report is being prepared and will be submitted to my Department for examination and approval. The planning of the scheme is, of course, a matter for the local authority. I am not prepared to comment on that aspect in advance of the submission and examination of the local authority's proposals.

Is the Minister aware that it is believed that officials of his Department are objecting to the inclusion of a sewage treatment plant as part of this scheme and want a scheme designed so that sewage will be discharged raw into the Oranmore Bay area? Will he deny that?

I am not aware of the discussions that are taking place. I said I would carry out an examination of the proposals when submitted to me from the local authority.

If officials of the Minister's Department are saying one thing, then is it not appropriate for me to ask the Minister whether he is aware of it, whether he approves of it or whether he will do something to change the attitude being adopted by his officials? I am asking the Minister whether he is aware that officials of his Department are now telling Galway County Council and the Department of Fisheries that they will not agree to a sewage treatment plant being included in the scheme and want the scheme to be designed in order to have the sewage discharged raw? Would the Minister not agree that the scheme has been held up long enough, for about five years now?

I can tell the Deputy that discussions between my officials, who are professionals in their own right, can be going on with a local authority but they do not run back to me and tell me what they said until I have the proposals submitted to me. If Galway County Council have some disagreement in this respect that will be indicated in their report to me.