Vol. 500 No. 4
278 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received an application from Limerick County Council for a sewerage scheme for Feenagh in County Limerick; if so, when the application was received; the priority given to this scheme; and the status in this regard. [4069/99]
288 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when works will commence on the new sewerage scheme at Bridgetown, County Wexford; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4321/99]
289 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when works will commence on the new proposed sewerage scheme at Ferns, County Limerick; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4322/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 278, 288 and 289 together.
These projects are being dealt with under the small public schemes programme which was devolved to the local authorities in 1997.
279 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if a sewerage scheme will be approved for the Creagh area of Ballinasloe, County Roscommon, in view of the fact that many of the residents in the area are experiencing severe problems with their septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4103/99]
A preliminary report for the scheme has recently been received in my Department but has not been approved. As the scheme is not included in the 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme it comes within the terms of my Department's circular letter L9/98 of 22 October 1998. The circular asked each local authority to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in its area and to prepare a prioritised list of projects based on the assessment. The priority list will be taken into consideration by my Department in framing future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the next national development plan 2000-2006. In the meanwhile the scheme will be considered, along with all other competing proposals, under the rural towns and villages initiative, details of which will be announced shortly.
280 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will provide additional grant assistance for group water schemes particularly to compensate groups for their additional expenditure in the provision of tanks and reservoirs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4114/99]
Group water scheme grants of up to £1,600 per house and £1,200 per farm are available from the local authority towards the cost of constructing or upgrading group water schemes. All necessary works, including the provisions of tanks and reservoir, are eligible for grant assistance.
281 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when funding will be made available for the Firies and Scartaglin regional water scheme, southern section, part B, which was submitted to his Department in 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4195/99]
Revised contract documents for this scheme were submitted to my Department in 1995. As the scheme is not included in the 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme it comes within the terms of my Department's circular letter L9/98 of 22 October 1998. This circular asked each local authority to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in its area and to prepare a prioritised list of projects based on the assessment. The priority lists will be taken into consideration by my Department in framing future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the next national development plan 2000-06.
282 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the position with regard to a proper water supply for the Balla area, Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4222/99]
I refer to the reply to Question No. 46 of 28 January 1999. The position is unchanged.
283 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals lodged with his Department to extend the Erris regional water scheme to cater for the Lagartly and Elly areas of the Erris peninsula; the areas proposed to be catered for in this extension; the position regarding approval of the design lodged by Mayo County Council; if moneys have been allocated for this purpose in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4229/99]
The Erris regional water supply scheme (extension to Mullet peninsula), which will serve the areas from Emlybeg to Elly Bay, is included in my Department's 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme as a scheme to be advanced through planning. A preliminary report for the scheme is with my Department and discussions with a view to advancing the scheme to the working drawing and design specification stage have recently taken place with the local authority.
