I assure the Deputy that the need for sewerage schemes for the villages of Jamestown, Drumsna and Rooskey is fully accepted in the Department. However, before going into detail in relation to them, I would like to refer to the broader picture in relation to water and sewerage services in County Leitrim.
The provision of a modern environmental infrastructure in support of the whole economy is a high priority for this Government. This commitment has been, and continues to be, well demonstrated by the huge investment in the water services programme throughout the country. This week the Minister, Deputy Howlin, announced a greatly expanded water and sewerage capital programme for 1997. At £150 million, this is the largest annual programme in the history of the State.
County Leitrim benefits from this high level of investment in water and sewerage projects by the Government. The south Leitrim regional water supply is a major project costing approximately £6 million, which has been funded by the Exchequer and is due to be completed shortly.
In addition, Leitrim is benefiting considerably from EU funding. Under the INTERREG II Programme, a European Union initiative for Border areas, Leitrim County Council is continuing with the planning of new sewerage schemes at New-towngore and Keshcarrigan, so that construction can commence this year, as well as improvements to the Carrick-on-Shannon sewerage scheme. These schemes will cost £750,000 approximately.
Of particular relevance to Leitrim is the application made to the European Commission for Cohesion funding for the Lough Gill regional water supply scheme. That application included a major water supply scheme for north Leitrim to include Drumkeerin, Manorhamilton and Dromahaire at a cost of over £9 million. The Commission decision last July did not, however, approve the Leitrim schemes.
In view of the need to provide the necessary infrastructure for this part of the county, the Minister has included the Manorhamilton water supply scheme in the 1997 work programme. The local authority can proceed with the planning of this scheme. The initial estimate is that it will cost £1.8 million approximately. It will be funded from Exchequer sources.
The continued development of the Shannon waterways is fundamental to the development and expansion of the local economy. It is the Minister's priority to ensure the quality of water in these systems is maintained at its current high standard. The Department has, accordingly, submitted an application to the European Commission for Cohesion Fund assistance to provide essential sewage collection and treatment systems in a number of towns and villages in Counties Leitrim, Cavan. Roscommon and Longford.
Stage 1 of the scheme, costing an estimated £14.5 million, includes the Drumsna and Dromod sewerage schemes costing £625,000 and £800,000, respectively. Stages 2 and 3 provide for a period of assessment of the results of the investment in stage 1, the construction of studge management facilities and the planning and construction of other projects which are deemed necessary as a result of the monitoring programme. This will result in a follow-up application for Cohesion funding, if proven necessary, for Jamestown and Rooskey.
The initial application was submitted to the Commission in December 1994. To date, there has been no decision on it. Because of the importance attached to providing amenities and infrastructure along the Shannon and to ensure and maintain a healthy environment the proposal Dromod sewerage scheme has also been included in the 1997 capital programme for water and sewerage services.
I have said enough to demonstrate that County Leitrim is doing well under the water and sewerage programme. Given the high level of demand from all areas of the country, it is simply not possible at this stage to allocate funds for every individual scheme or to say when each scheme will commence.
