James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I wish to thank the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy McDaid, for being in attendance and I also thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment.

The Clondra sewerage scheme in County Longford has been a burning issue with the residents of the area for some time. Officials in the Department of the Environment and Local Government have been aware of the matter since 1973, when it was first raised. On several occasions, political statements have been made regarding an early commencement date for the scheme but these have amounted to waffle and hot air.

Clondra is located on the River Shannon, beside the Royal Canal, and has a thriving harbour. It is a heritage and fishing village which attracts huge numbers of tourists every year. Local residents, tour operators, fishery bodies and schools have all expressed serious concerns about the high levels of raw sewage in the vicinity of the village, with obvious health and economic repercussions for the area if the problem is not rectified soon. It is dreadful to see locals and tourists walking around this scenic village, with handkerchiefs held to their faces as they try to block out the smell of raw sewage. The people of the area are greatly embarrassed and distressed by this problem. It is very frustrating that the development of their village has been slowed down by the lack of a sewerage scheme, which it is estimated would cost in the region of €1.3 million.

I request that the Department of the Environment and Local Government approve this sewerage scheme immediately, as pollution in the area is out of control. Infrastructure and village renewal is important for small villages such as Clondra. Given the village's sewage pollution, which in turn is flowing into our waterways and polluting groundwater, it is facing an end to its development and a serious threat to the health and safety of its residents and visitors.

The village of Clondra has approximately 40 houses, a restaurant, two public houses, a community centre, a school and industry. It has an over-concentration of septic tanks in rocky or poor quality soil, which results in pollution of watercourses, such as the Shannon and Camlin rivers and the Royal Canal. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that the sewerage scheme should be approved and constructed immediately.