Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Haughey. Ba mhaith liom an scéim séireachais i gCaisleán na Finne a phlé. Tá an cheist seo ag dul siar le fada an lá. Tá fadhb millteanach sa cheantar, ní hamháin siocair nach bhfuil an tseirbhís ann, ach freisin siocair nach bhfuil muintir na háite in ann tithe a thógáil. Tá aithne agam ar dhaoine óga atá ag dul i mbun a saoil le chéile, ach nach bhfuil ábalta teach a thógáil sa cheantar de bharr an easpa séarachais. Tá cead pleanála á dhiúltiú ag an gcomhairle contae agus An Bord Pleanála siocair nach bhfuil an seirbhís seo ann. Tá sé dochreidte sa lá atá inniu ann nach mbeadh seirbhís chomh bunúsach agus scéim séireachais ar fáil i mbaile ar nós Caisleán na Finne. Tá súil agam go mbeimid in ann dul chun cinn a dhéanamh anseo inniu. Ní hamháin nach bhfuil an tseirbhís sin ann, ach tá sé deacair an phríomhsráid a shiúl gan an boladh bréan a mhothú. Níl an chóras atá ann faoi láthair in ann freastal a dhéanamh ar an cheantar.

With Donegal County Councillor Cora Harvey, I held a public meeting in Castlefin last week, at which the most pressing issue was the Castlefin sewerage scheme. It dates back many years and was meant to be dealt with by the interdepartmental committee established by the Government to deal with problems in County Donegal nearly five years ago, with the Gweedore, Dunloe, Glenties, Ballybofey and Lifford sewerage schemes, in a timelined manner. Half a decade on none of these programmes has been delivered. The interdepartmental committee's report, like many others, is just gathering dust.

I accept the Castelfin scheme has been bundled with two others and that the Department is awaiting preliminary reports. However, imagination on the Government's part is necessary to move the project on. The fact that the scheme is not in place means married couples from the area have been denied planning permission to build a house in it. The community in Castelfin must deal with the terrible stench which is particularly bad in the summer months because the existing sewerage scheme does not have the capacity to deal with current demand. One of the social housing estates close to the scheme must endure it often.

Will the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government make the scheme a priority in his Department? I understand there is an economic recession but the cost of upgrading the scheme will only come to €1.6 million. The scheme was originally announced in the 2005-07 water services programme for County Donegal 2005 to 2007 and it is time it was moved on. I hope the Minister of State will have some words of comfort for me and the people of Castlefin tonight.