Vol. 510 No. 5
181 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views in relation to recommendation 1.3.5 of the Donegal task force initiative report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23079/99]
The national development plan for the period 2000 to 2006, which is in the process of being finalised, together with the community support framework and the relevant operational programmes will form the strategic policy context for the provision of national roads, as well as other key, infrastructure over the next seven years. It will then be a matter for the National Roads Authority, local authorities and the private sector to implement the necessary investment programmes to achieve the agreed policy objectives.
The analysis of the report of the Donegal employment initiative task force in relation to road investment needs in the county has been available in the context of preparing the new national development plan and regard will continue to be had to it in the further development of this process.
182 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views in relation to recommendation 1.3.6 of the Donegal Task Force Initiative Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23080/99]
A number of the schemes identified in the task force recommendation are already included in my Department's 1999 water services investment programme, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Schemes not yet in the programme come within the terms of my Department's circular letter L9/98 of 22 October 1998, which 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 assessment process requires local authorities to examine in detail their development requirements and infrastructural capacity and, in the case of Donegal County Council, would necessitate due consideration being given to the employment task force report.
A provisional priority list has been received from Donegal County Council this week. When the priority list has been formally adopted by the elected members of the council it will be considered by my Department in the framing of future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the strategic frameworks to be set out in the national development plan 2000 to 2006.
