Although progress is expected this year on the upgrading of the Lough Talt water supply scheme, a number of councillors expressed skepticism during a discussion on the matter at the March monthly meeting of Sligo County Council.

The issue arose as a result of a motion from Clr. Jerry Lundy asking for a report on the Lough Talt Water Supply Scheme, Aclare, and if the project would start construction in the current year.

Clr. Lundy said that as part of the Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007, the Lough Talt Water Supply Scheme was due to start in 2007 with an estimated cost of €1,870,000. He understood that when it came to grants to local authorities replacing leaking water mains, there was to have been less "red tape" involved to speed up construction.

Clr. Lundy said the existing Lough Talt treatment works were built in 1972. Now that construction costs had come down with many plumbers, blocklayers and plasterers having lost their jobs, this was "an ideal time to push for construction of this scheme and hopefully help create local jobs for local tradesmen."

Clr. Lundy said that according to the 2009 Water Services Need Assessment, construction on the Lough Talt Water Supply Scheme new treatment works was due to start this year at an estimated cost of €8,540,000.

He asked if this scheme would extend all the way to Gurteen Village when completed, as there were ongoing problems with poor quality water from North Roscommon, and almost daily problems with leaking pipes.

Acting Senior Engineer Donal Harrison, in a report to the council, stated that the Lough Talt Water Supply Scheme was listed for upgrade on the current Water Services Investment Programme as published by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The preliminary report for the scheme had been submitted to the Department for approval. The report recommended that the project be advanced in four phases: a new water plant, a new intake works, network improvements, and an interconnector to the South Sligo water supply scheme.

The council has commenced the Part 8 planning procedures for the new water treatment plant during 2009 and the consultation process was ongoing.

Pending department approval of the preliminary report, approval of the necessary finance and completion of the required statutory procedures, it was anticipated that the procurement phase for the new water treatment plant would be advanced in the current year.

Clr. Margaret Gormley said she hoped those words would come true and that they would see the upgrade of Lough Talt.

Clr. Michael Fleming said he did not see much movement for the last number of years from this government that continued to underinvest in services in this county. While he supported the improvement of the Lough Talt supply, he did not see it happening in the very near future.

"Let's not fool ourselves. What we want from this government is a commitment to funding," Clr. Fleming said.

Clr. Gormley said it was Clr. Lundy (Fianna Fail) who had the funding and "it's up to him to deliver."

County Manger Hubert Kearns pointed out that there had been an earlier discussion during the council meeting about the council's financial situation.

He was glad to see that "in the last few minutes" of the meeting there had been support for a number of major water schemes but "this will all have to be paid for."

"Where are we gong to get the money from?" the Manager asked. "Income is less, so I pose the question. How could it be otherwise?" he asked, adding the council's finances were going to deteriorate.

Clr. Jude Devins said he wouldn't like to see the council enter into many schemes because the finances were perilous.

"We should and choose what schemes we enter into," he said.

Said Clr. Patsy Barry: "Our ability to pay has got to come into this."