I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment and welcome the fact that the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, who also represents the constituency concerned, is here to reply.
Over the past six weeks a serious problem has arisen with the water supply in Drumconrath, County Meath, due to algae on the lake. This lake supplies some 900 households, including farms. Many of the extensions to the scheme provided by the local authority to the village of Drumconrath took place through local involvement in group schemes on the outskirts of the village and this water supply is availed of by people, some of whom live as far away as Nobber and a substantial way along the Carrickmacross road and other roads out of the village.
The council has had this problem for the past six weeks and has tried to no avail to sort it out. A month or five weeks have passed and while the supply is deemed okay for drinking, were it not for the increased fluoridation I do not think this would be the case. That said, I believe that because the supply is coming mainly from a stagnant lake, where there is no through-flow of water, there is a need to find a new supply.
When I raised this matter on Monday at the county council meeting, I was informed that the local authority was in the process of starting to look for an alternative ground water supply. It will probably take more than one or two of these boreholes to solve the problem. I have also been informed that it will cost well in excess of £100,000.
The local authority has a small schemes' programme and has money in that particular kitty, but I am afraid that other schemes, for which that money has been earmarked in 2001, will be put on the backburner because the money is required immediately for the improvement of this scheme. I am asking, therefore, that the Minister, who I know has been in contact with the local authority on the matter, should inform me today that moneys will be made available by the local authority, if and when required, so that no stone will be left unturned to ensure the improvement of the supply and that money will not be an obstacle.
I am also informed that if there is the possibility of providing a system of new filters, they would come at an enormous cost, and that there is no guarantee such improvement of the filters will actually solve the problem. I believe that the real solution to the problem lies in finding new sources and ensuring that his Department makes money available to the local authority, if and when required, to pay for the necessary improvements.
As our colleague stated this week, the water is worse in colour than any dose ever given to cattle years ago or even nowadays. People continue to inform me through my constituency office on a daily basis that the smell of the water is unbelievable and outrageous. No doubt the Minister will give some comfort to the people dependent on this supply. The fact that it is in our own constituency should make it that much easier to do.