Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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With the agreement of the House, I wish to share my time with Senator Brennan. The Shannon Estuary water supply scheme covers a wide area. A few years ago, the intentions of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the council was to broaden the scheme to include the Pallaskenry and Kildimo areas. Much work took place on that and I understand approximately €5 million has been spent in laying the upsized diameter pipes which were essential for the scheme. Those pipes have been laid as far as Kildimo because the council took the opportunity, when upgrading the N69 recently, to extend the scheme by a further 2.7 km to Kildimo.

It is worth bearing in mind that some of that area is being serviced from Bleach Lough. The many people who use the water from Bleach Lough pride themselves on that water. We must recognise, however, that there has been a dramatic expansion of housing in that area. There are two prominent group water schemes — Ballyshonick and Kilcornan — and many other householders want to get connection to the Shannon Estuary water supply scheme.

I spoke to a woman today who is in the Ballyshonick group water scheme and she told me she has not had a glass of water from her own tap in 23 years. The people in that scheme have poor quality water. They were recently warned by the health board not to use the water because the E.coli level was so high it was only suitable for flushing toilets. Those people have had to put up with a poor quality water supply over many years. I realise the people in Bleach Lough have that water supply but for how much longer can the people in the other group water schemes use water which would not be acceptable in Third World countries? The situation is serious.

The solution to this problem is to extend the water scheme. The council, in a reply to me on 3 February last, stated that conditional approval to proceed to tender was received from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and that it was appointing consultants to make the necessary amendments to contract documents.

I raise this matter today, despite pressing the council on it over a period of time, because it requires a sense of urgency from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Serious questions must be asked on this matter. When I was chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts I questioned the Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. Callan, on how so much public money could be expended when large diameter pipes were left lying with stagnant water in them. Somebody described those pipes to me as a condominium for rats. They must be put into usage. They were provided with taxpayers' money. There must be an end to the poor quality water many people in these group water schemes and those seeking connections have to endure. I hope the Minister's response will be favourable and that this matter is being expedited.

Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)
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I thank Senator Finucane for sharing time with me. I support the case he has made and acknowledge the vast amount of Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government funding to Limerick County Council for its 2000-06 water and sewerage schemes programme.

The N69 from Foynes to Limerick city could be served by the proposed scheme. As Senator Finucane said, up to €5 million has been allocated by the Department for the upgrading of the Shannon Estuary supply scheme at Aughinish. That scheme is very important for the supply of water to our towns and villages, and to industry. In many towns and villages, from Kildimo and Pallaskenry to Ballybrown, Clarina and Mungret, builders are being asked to provide an alternative scheme from Limerick city towards that area. I understand the importance to the Department of having a full scheme from Foynes to Limerick and from Clareville back to the west and south of the county. I congratulate the Department on making funds available but it is important that these schemes come to fruition and that services are brought to the people in the group water schemes Senator Finucane mentioned those who have an unsafe supply in many instances.

We also recognise the problem in Kildimo-Pallaskenry where people have a choice of supply but for the greater good the supply coming along the Shannon Estuary to Clarina and Mungret should proceed in the interests of the investment made to date in meeting the development needs of our towns and villages. That is important for the future of schools and facilities in our parishes.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, I thank the two Senators for raising this issue. Unfortunately, the Minister is unable to be in the House this evening.

The provision of modem environmental services to support social and economic objectives has been a major focus of Government spending over the past number of years. There has been unprecedented investment under the national development plan in new water and sewerage infrastructure throughout the country.

The Pallaskenry-Kildimo water supply scheme, which involves an extension of the Shannon Estuary water supply scheme to serve these areas, is one of more than 800 projects being funded under the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's water services investment programme 2004-06. The Pallaskenry-Kildimo scheme has been approved for construction under the investment programme and I understand that an advance section has already been completed in conjunction with road works on the N69 roadway. I also understand that ministerial approval was given to Limerick County Council's contract documents for the remainder of the scheme last November. This approval authorised the council to invite tenders for the construction of the remainder of the works and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is now awaiting a recommendation from the council for the appointment of the contractor with the best tender. When that recommendation comes into the Department it will be quickly examined and, following approval, the council will then be in a position to place the contract. Funding of €1.4 million has been set aside for the scheme in the water services investment programme 2004-06 and the Minister is keen for it to get to construction as soon as possible. In the meantime, however, the initiative rests with the local authority. I have no doubt the two Members who raised the matter will be in a position to exert some pressure in that quarter.

As the Senators are aware, the current water supply source for the bulk of the area to be served by the new scheme is Bleach Lough. There have been local objections to the replacement of Bleach Lough by the Shannon Estuary scheme extension which will instead use water from the River Deel. To ensure that any objections were properly taken into account, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government sought clarification from Limerick County Council. Following a public consultation process, the council reported back to the Department in November 2002. It stated:

. . . 8.6% of the people who attended the public consultation and completed the questionnaires were against changing their water supply source, 34.6% had general or no comments and almost 57% required the new water supply source. In total, over 91% of people either had no comment or were in favour of being provided with a new water source because of difficulties experienced with the reliability of water quality, pressure, etc. of their existing supply. In light of the outcome of the consultation process, the pressing need for additional water capacity to facilitate development in the area and the position of a number of group water schemes that were suffering from serious water quality problems and requiring a new source, it was resolved that the extension of the Shannon Estuary scheme to Pallaskenry and Kildimo should go ahead as planned. As already indicated, the council's tender recommendation for the extension is now awaited by the Department for approval.

I listened carefully to what the Senators said and I will bring their comments to the attention of the Minister as soon as possible.