Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív as ucht an deis seo a thabhairt dom an cheist thábhachtach seo a fhreagairt. I ndiaidh na díospóireachta seo, beidh mé ag caint leis an Roinn ionas go mbeimid ag gabháil amárach leis na ceisteanna bunúsacha atá curtha faoi bhráid na Dála anocht ag an Teachta agus nach bhfuil freagraí iomlán dóibh sa théacs atá agam.

Tá raon cuimsitheach de bhonneagar na seirbhisí uisce nua ceadaithe do Chontae na Gaillimhe foilsithe i gcáipéis na Roinne, Seirbhísí Uisce Clár Infheistíochta 2010-2012. Tá cóip de ar fáil i Leabharlann an Oireachtais. Is é luach iomlán na gconartha atá ar bun faoi láthair agus iad siúd atá molta le linn tréimhse an chláir i gContae na Gaillimhe ná €130 milliun. Tá scéim soláthair uisce réigiúnach Chasla - Costello san áirearnh sa chlár do 2010-2012. Ta an tionscadal, faoina dtabharfaidh an chomhairle ar fáil fearas nua coiréala uisce agus uasghrádú gréasan forleathan dáilte ar chostas measta de €15.3 milliún, i measc an liosta de na conarthaí sa chontae a churfear chun cinn le haghaidh togála faoi deireadh 2012. Is soiléir go mbeidh sé críochnaithe, le chúnamh Dé, roimh deireadh 2012.

D'fhormheas an Bord Pleanála an EIS don scéim Chasla - Costello le coinníollacha. Chuir Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe cóip den EIS faoi bhráid an Roinn i mí Dheireadh Fómhair seo caite, maraon lena thuarascáil ar na coinníollacha EIS. Tá an Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreacht agus Rialtais Áitiúil ag déanamh scrúdú ar an tuarascáil seo faoi láthair i gcomhar le cáipéisí conartha na comhairle le haghaidh na scéime. Tabharfaidh mé an chuid eile den fhreagra i mBéarla toisc nach bhfuil sé agam i nGaeilge. Gabh mo leithscéal faoi sin.

In regard to the leaking of heating oil from a property in Carraroe, Galway County Council has established the source of the oil leak and has taken steps to minimise the leak. These include liaising with the property owners from where the oil has leaked. The property owners are remediating their site by removing the affected soil and placing booms on the stream into which oil has seeped.

Galway County Council has also provided booms and straw baling to further restrict the seepage of oil into the source. At the water supply intake from Loughaunwillaun Lake the council have put in place a granular activated carbon filter. This filter has been operating since the middle of last week and it provides added protection to the water supply. Work is ongoing on cleansing the network of any residue. Specialist contractors were engaged to flush and clean out two reservoirs on the scheme. Daily sampling of the network and raw water is being undertaken.

Tankers of clean water have been placed throughout the affected network to provide the public with clean drinking water. All those in need of clean water are being attended to by Galway County Council staff in the area. It is liaising with the HSE to determine when a normal water supply can be resumed. Since Friday, 8 April the council, in agreement with the HSE, has eased the restrictions on the use of the water supply in Carraroe. Consumers can now use the water for washing and sanitary use.

All actions that could be taken to address the recent leaking of oil into the Carraroe water supply have been taken by the council in consultation with the HSE. On the broader issue of a new treatment plant, a decision by my Department in regard to the Casla - Costello regional water supply scheme will be conveyed to Galway County Council as soon as possible. I assure the Deputy that I will get in touch with the responsible official tomorrow to push this forward.

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