Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this issue and the Minister of State for coming to the House. I raise the matter of the Milltown sewerage scheme in north Galway. Milltown has the honour of being the tidiest village in County Galway in recent years. Funding has been allocated for water schemes in the village and surrounding areas. However, there will be a threat of pollution if a sewerage scheme is not provided. Fisheries have expressed concern because they have spent money on the river.

It is very frustrating for the community of Milltown that the growth of the village has been stopped by the lack of a sewerage scheme which is costed at €1 million. Other villages have considered low cost schemes and systems. I ask the Department of the Environment and Local Government to approve a suitable system. Infrastructure is very important for villages and towns, particularly in the case of Milltown. The village has a restaurant, five public houses, a community centre and a football pitch. It is, therefore, very important that a sewerage scheme is provided.

I have raised this issue on many occasions with Galway County Council and was told last October that the council's consulting engineers were preparing documentation requested by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. While the October deadline for the completion of the documentation by the engineers was not met, I understand the documentation has now been completed. It is very important that the Department approves the sewerage scheme in order that it can progress to the next stage. I ask the Minister of State to impress on her colleague the importance of the scheme.