Michael Ring
Question:239 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when a decision will be made on the funding needed for the Srah to Westport water supply scheme in County Mayo. [11380/99]
Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
A brief for a major extension of the Lough Mask regional water supply scheme to serve Westport, Louisburgh, Newport and Mulranny an estimated cost of almost £21 million, was received in my Department in April 1998. The local authority was subsequently requested to review the proposal in the light of approvals under the serviced land initiative of water supply augmentation schemes for Newport and Mulranny. Following this review, Mayo County Council submitted a proposal last February for a phased approach, Phase One of which would involve an extension from Srah to Westport at an estimated cost of £7 million. As the scheme is not included in the 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme the council's proposal 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.