Vol. 505 No. 6
21 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which he has evaluated the infrastructural needs between now and the year 2010; the areas to which he will provide funding to meet these needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14421/99]
The Deputy will be aware that the national development plan for the 2000-06 period is in the course of preparation. In this context, my Department, along with other relevant Departments, has submitted proposals to the Department of Finance for funding for a range of infrastructural measures over this period.
In assessing infrastructural needs generally, my Department draws on its long experience and that of the local government sector and the National Roads Authority in managing the programmes concerned at central and local level. The Department has also been assisted by various analyses and reports including: the ESRI report, National Investment Priorities for the period 2000-2006; the National Road Needs Study prepared by the National Roads Authority; the Pavement Study – Condition of Non National Roads, prepared for my Department by Ove Arup and Partners; An Economic Assessment of Recent House Price Developments and The Housing Market: An Economic Review and Assessment by Peter Bacon and Associates; Housing in Dublin – A Strategic Review, by the Dublin Local Authorities; the policy statement, Waste Management – Changing our Ways, prepared by my Department; and the strategic planning guidelines for the Dublin area prepared by a consortium of consultants for my Department and certain local and regional authorities.
My Department's assessment of infrastructural needs has also been informed by the views and submissions of the various social partners, including Filling the Gap – Ireland's Infrastructural Deficit, prepared by Fitzpatrick Associates for IBEC, and the reports prepared for regional authorities on development strategies for the 2000-06 period for the southern and eastern regions and the Border, midlands and western regions. Legal obligations in relation to minimum waste water treatment standards stipulated under the EU Urban Waste Water Directive are also reflected in my Department's submission to the Department of Finance for water services funding under the next national development plan.
I am not in a position to indicate the resources to be provided over the 2000-06 funding period, but the Deputy may be assured that there will be an appropriate balance both within and between programmes. Decisions on this will be taken by the Government in the first instance in finalising the national development plan. Negotiations with the EU will follow in the context of the community support framework.
When will the national development plan be finalised? Will the House have an opportunity to discuss it before the negotiations with the Commission take place? With regard to the provision of economic infrastructure, will the national development plan discriminate in favour of the Border, midlands and western regions? Will a discrimination be made in favour of the treatment of waste waters in the many towns and villages throughout the country which are currently discharging untreated effluent into water courses?
The Deputy will appreciate the earlier questions he posed are matters for the Minister for Finance. However, it is well known that we hope to finalise the national development plan by mid-year and to submit it to the European Commission shortly thereafter.
Will that be before the end of this month?
I do not know the precise date. The Deputy should table a question to the Minister for Finance in order to obtain that information.
With regard to infrastructural development in terms of water and sewerage facilities in towns and villages throughout Ireland, apart from doubling the amount of money available for water and sewerage services when the Deputy's party was in Government, we also announced that £80 million will be made available to those towns and villages in an effort to tackle the problem of the release of raw sewage into our rivers. We are making a great deal of progress and I assure the Deputy that I will continue to obtain large tranches of funds for that purpose.
When the national development plan is submitted to Brussels, will the Minister ensure that funding in respect of the roads which cross the Border and create links, North and South, will be included? The N2 and N3 were completely ignored in the last national development plan.
Will the Deputy put a brief question to the Minister?
In light of the fact that it has no airports etc., does the Minister realise the importance of creating a good infrastructure in the area to which I refer?
The Deputy will be aware that the N2 and N3 pass through extensive parts of my constituency and I intend to ensure that a more than fair share of the funding made available is spent on them.
Deputy Crawford was referring to the parts of those roads which run outside the Minister's constituency.
Does the Minister accept that the national development plan and the options for the various projects and programmes to be included in it should be matters for public discussion rather than for private consideration by the Government? In that context, will he publish his Department's plans for the critical area of infrastructural development which is so important to the country's future development?
It would not be in order to publish bits and pieces of what is submitted for the national development plan.
Why?
I have read out a list of the various assessments and studies which inform our bid for infrastructural development. The Government will take that bid into account along with bids from other Departments for various infrastructural needs. I assure the Deputy we will fight as hard as we can to meet the infrastructural needs of this country. It is widely accepted that is the route we must take.
I want to ask a question.
I cannot call you, Deputy Gormley, as we have exceeded the six minutes allowed for the question.
On a point of order, you seem to favour certain parties and other parties do not get an opportunity to speak.
I resent that remark. The Chair has regard to the proportionality and size of the parties. Two members from the larger party and one member from the Labour Party were called.
I accept that.
I am glad you accept it. We are now moving on to Question No. 22 in the name of Deputy Owen.
