Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I will not give a similar tour of Galway, although I could. The Senator is very lucky to have a Minister of the calibre of Deputy Cullen in his constituency. I thank the Minister for the work he has done. For the first time, smaller towns and centres with a population of 1,000 are getting small sewerage schemes. I would like to see that figure further reduced in order to provide sewerage schemes in more smaller towns and villages. Most of the preliminary reports from Galway County Council suggest a figure of approximately €1 million per town or village, which is to be welcomed. I have seen a design, build and operate system in County Galway led by Meath County Council, which is a coincidence in many ways because some of the people in County Meath have Galway connections. I would like to see that system operating within counties in the context of smaller towns. We have had huge investment of large sums of money in places such as Mutton Island off Galway and Clifden. A smaller sum of €1 million would provide a sewerage scheme in smaller towns.

As the Minister stated, there have been some adverse judgments against Ireland by the European Court, which could result in heavy fines. That is another reason for ensuring we have good quality drinking water. I hope the group water schemes can play a role in this. Many small schemes are now forming co-operatives. I also welcome the provision of a package of €450 million for rural water schemes under the regional development programme.

On licensing, there are moves to involve county councils and local authorities more in the taking over of schemes. This could prove less expensive for committees working on a voluntary basis who bear a great burden of voluntary community work. This cannot continue. Many schemes have appointed caretakers, which is a very welcome development. The caretaker is trained in the maintenance and upkeep of schemes. Some schemes contain in the region of 500 or 600 houses. That is a big responsibility for a group scheme and for a caretaker. The Minister referred to section 91 which provides that a water service authority could temporarily take over the operation and management of a scheme. This is necessary if a group water scheme cannot deal with a serious problem. The advantages are clear when one considers what the alternative might be. From time to time we see notices in the newspaper or hear reports on local radio that a group water scheme has had to suspend activity because of a problem. It is therefore very important that the local authority has a role.

I would like to raise the question of balance in this legislation to which the Minister referred. Balance is needed between the work of group water schemes and local authorities now that licensing is to be introduced. I welcome the fact that the Minister is very much in favour of development. We have discussed the spatial strategy and planning issues in this House. I would like the housing strategy to be examined in the context of water services, waste management and waste water treatment. Along with many of my colleagues, I have encountered difficulties in getting planning in our towns and villages. We are often told that the necessary infrastructure is not in place. Development plans often refer to the provision of clusters of housing in towns or villages designated as new settlement centres. Although such centres are mentioned in the County Galway development county plan, we cannot get planning permission in towns and villages because of the lack of sewerage facilities. This problem also applies to the location in a town of industry or any other type of enterprise.

The actions of the Minister, Deputy Cullen, in respect of providing these services are very important. I could name many other towns which want the services he wants to provide. We take it that plans are in place. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, keeps saying that the plan should be put together. Galway County Council has done that by way of preliminary report in different towns. It would be a very good idea to provide the design-build-operate system, or some low cost schemes, within a county. The previous Minister in this area, Deputy Noel Dempsey, approved a minor scheme in the small town of Williamstown. The reed-based sewerage scheme in the town was provided at approximately half of the cost of traditional sewerage schemes. I hope we can examine ways of providing small sewerage schemes in our towns and villages at low cost. Similar arguments have been made to me in respect of schools. There is a strong case for a waste treatment facility in my own village because it has two schools, at first and second levels.

The Minister spoke about section 70, which enables the local authority or the water service authority to prosecute offenders. It is important that large fines of up to €15 million should be in place. I welcome the fact that remedial works can be carried out, where necessary, and that people must provide redress for the pollution that is caused. This is very important. I also welcome the comments of the Minister on water wastage. There is an old network of pipes and pumps in many counties and there are problems with mains and networks. Local authorities and the group water schemes I mentioned are dealing with leakage. It is important that we say in the House that we should help such organisations to deal with the wastage of water. This is something we certainly do not want to see happening.

I am interested in Part 7 of the Bill, which relates to the power of acquisition. The Minister mentioned land purchases, which is one of the difficulties faced by group water schemes down the years. The owner of a site where there is a river or a well seemed to get water for free, traditionally. This was not always the subject of a legal agreement, however, which led to difficulties when there was a falling out between landowners and water scheme committees in many parts of the country. It is the type of issue John B. Keane may have written about. In certain cases, landowners decided not to allow the committee to go near a well or river, to fix a leak or to maintain a pump. This has to be clarified if we are to avoid further problems.

I would like to speak about pollution. It is necessary to protect human health, as the Minister has stated. We should examine the best way of quickly notifying consumers about water problems, for example by using newspapers and local radio. The Minister mentioned that the consumer is very important. Local radio is one of the best ways of letting people know that a problem exists. It is important to identify the source of contamination as quickly as possible when there is an incidence of water pollution and I hope we can do that. Many of those who work in the water supply service in a voluntary manner are anxious to stop doing so. They want local authorities to take over schemes and caretakers to be involved. It is very important that this is done quickly so that the word can get out.

It might sound unusual, but I am amazed by the inventive and imaginative use of FÁS schemes throughout the country. I note that such schemes are now used on water schemes. Water scheme committees received awards from FÁS some years ago for their work on FÁS schemes. It is a very good example of the importance of FÁS schemes. People who work on these schemes each week are able to come in at short notice to help out if there is a problem with a scheme. The Minister is aware that there can be many problems, but they are beginning to be dealt with. This Bill consolidates much of what we are talking about. I hope we will see the same co-operation in the future between the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the national rural water monitoring committee and local authorities.

I will conclude by saying that I hope the Minister will be able to continue to provide money for the old pipe network, which is very important. The existing network in many counties is very old and the pumps might not always work. I hope the Minister will continue to fund the many improvements required. I thank the Minister for the interest he has shown in the treatment of water and waste water since he took office.