Vol. 506 No. 5
182 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, being taken to deal with Ireland's infrastructural deficit; and the safeguards, if any, being taken to ensure lowest possible access costs. [15713/99]
The importance of investment in infrastructure, such as roads and water services, in underpinning continued economic growth in our economy is well accepted. For this reason, the Government has provided significant additional resources for these services since taking office.
183 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether funding will have to be made available for the infrastructure required by the rezoning of land for development by local authorities in view of the requirements of the urban waste water directive 91/271/EEC; and, if so, the amount allocated in 1999 for this purpose. [15722/99]
My Department's water and sewerage services investment programme provides funding to local authorities to meet the capital costs of providing major new waste water schemes, net of contributions from non-domestic users for the provision of services to them. In these cases, contributions, based on capacity reserved, are paid up front or over a period of up to 20 years; operating costs are paid by non-domestic users based on metered usage or on a flat rate basis. In addition, where services are provided to support commercial or residential developments, for example under the serviced land initiative, my Department will only fund a maximum of 40 per cent of the approved cost with the balance to be met by the local authorities and funded primarily by development levies raised under the planning acts.
Over the period of the current national development plan covering 1994 to the end of this year, an estimated £960 million will be spent on water and waste water services to provide the services necessary to support economic and social development and environmental protection. This investment has enabled us to make good headway in meeting the obligations of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive which requires that urban areas with a population equivalent of more than 2,000 are provided with secondary treatment of waste water by the end of 2005. Major new schemes required under the directive have been completed in locations such as Tralee, Killarney and Clonmel and are under construction in many other locations including Dundalk, Drogheda, Wexford, Galway, Cork, Navan, Limerick, Osberstown and Dublin.
184 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the representations, if any, he has had from Dublin Corporation on upgrading and replacement of the sub-standard main drainage systems serving Ballymun, Dublin 9; if he has replied to these representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15724/99]
My Department has approved Dublin Corporation's proposals in this regard.
