Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I am delighted the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Tony Killeen, is present to take this matter. This motion relates to the Falcarragh and Gortahork water supply scheme, which has approximately 3,000 connections, and the Rosses regional water supply scheme, which has between 10,000 and 12,000 individual connections.

The Falcarragh water supply scheme was included for upgrading in the announcement made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 18 September last, with an associated cost of €3.4 million and outlined as a scheme to commence in 2009. Donegal County Council is carrying out a specific survey on this scheme, with a view to upgrading further the Ardbeg treatment plant, which serves the scheme, at a projected cost of approximately €675,000. Notwithstanding this work, major capital investment is required for the scheme. I understand from Donegal County Council that the scheme has water leakages or losses of approximately 60% from its daily production of 1,600 cu. m. of water.

What steps is the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government taking to ensure these major water leakages from the scheme are addressed? As part of the county water conservation programme, digital mapping has been carried out on the scheme by Donegal County Council and the installation of metering is planned.

I urge the Minister of State to ensure the Department assists the council in addressing this by having the urgently required corrective action taken, which may well include funding for the replacement of the pipes in the scheme if this emerges as the problem. It is clear the extent of the losses are having an adverse effect on water quality and this has been acknowledged locally. When can we expect the major capital work on the scheme to begin if it is on schedule for 2009?

The Rosses regional water supply scheme was also included in the 18 September announcement from the Minister and it is scheduled to go to planning in 2009, with an anticipated cost of €3.4 million. Work was carried out over recent years under the council's water conservation programme to address the leakages pertaining to this scheme, and the work proved to be successful.

However, 16 km of pipe work on the scheme requires urgent replacement. This work has an estimated cost of €4.7 million. The Rosses regional network was split into seven district meter areas, which are Meenbanad and Kincasslagh, Meenbanad and Dungloe, Kerrytown Bridge, Dore and Arduns, Crolly Bridge, Brinlack and Kentucky. As can be seen from the cost in those seven distinct areas, the replacement in the Rosses regional scheme is a major issue. I understand discussions are ongoing between Donegal County Council and the Department with a view to securing funding to have the pipe replacement carried out.

In the interim, the water inspectors have a monotonous daily task of replacing bursts and leakages along the network, which is unacceptable as we look to conserve as much water as we can. I impress strongly upon the Minister the importance of having funding made available for the replacement of these pipes.

Are the asbestos pipes which carry the water through both these schemes safe and what happens if a pipe bursts? Does this have an adverse effect, when ingested, on human health? To give the Minister of State a figure, approximately 25% of the pipe work in both schemes combined has asbestos pipe connected to it.

As a food technologist and someone who has studied the area of food and water safety, I have done my own research and I know the position of the World Health Organisation. I would like reassurance from the Department, if possible, for the people of west Donegal who are served by these water pipes. Are the men who work for the council on these pipes when they make repairs exposed to any health risks? The Minister of State may be able to provide answers today but if not, I would be quite happy to wait on answers at a later date.