Vol. 483 No. 4
110 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he received a brief from Arklow Urban District Council, County Wicklow for the appointment of consultants for the Arklow sewerage scheme; and, if so, if his Department has given approval to this brief. [20678/97]
A brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders and supervise the construction contract for the Arklow main drainage scheme was submitted to my Department for approval last June. However, pending a decision of the European Commission on the application for Cohesion Funding, I cannot say when it may be possible to approve the brief.
111 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need to upgrade a large number of group water schemes in County Cavan; if he will provide substantial funding in 1998 to Cavan County Council to enable the upgrading of some of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20762/97]
Under the devolved arrangements for the group water scheme programme, local authorities were asked to submit multi-annual programmes for group water and sewerage schemes and small public water and sewerage schemes costing up to £250,000. Block grants for 1998 will be allocated based on the amount of funding available and the priority of the works proposed in each local authority area. Cavan County Council has now submitted its multi-annual programme for consideration in this context.
