Vol. 512 No. 3
263 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received the recently submitted additional information sought by his Department in respect of an extension to the Claremorris sewerage scheme, Balla Road, Claremorris, County Mayo; and if he will approve the scheme. [26121/99]
The information sought by my Department was received last month and is under consideration.
264 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when a grant will be made available to Kiltormer group water scheme in County Galway for an extension of the Ballinasloe/Laurencetown scheme; if a supplementary grant for high cost will be paid; when approval will be given to erect a water tower for the scheme in Kiltormer; if grant aid will be made available to connect households served by unsatisfactory supply and quality in part of the area of the new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26122/99]
Galway County Council has sought European Regional Development Fund funding for a group scheme trunk main from Sheepwalk to Kiltormer from the £10 million provided for the development of certain large scale group water schemes under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services, 1994-99. Some £3.8 million of this funding has been approved for schemes in County Galway. All the European Regional Development Fund funding available under the current programme is fully committed and no further projects can, therefore, be approved at this time.
Under the devolved rural water programme the allocation and payment of group water scheme capital grants for new schemes and for upgrading works on existing schemes is a matter for the county councils.
265 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when funding will be sanctioned for water and sewerage facilities in the town of Knock, County Mayo; and the priority, if any, given to these schemes. [26123/99]
Contract documents for the extension of the Lough Mask regional water supply scheme to Knock and Ballyhaunis, which is included in my Department's 1999 water and sewerage services investment programme to be advanced through planning, were approved last September. The scheme is second in Mayo County Council's priority list of water supply schemes.
The preliminary report for phase 1 of the Knock sewerage scheme, which is also in the investment programme to advance through planning in 1999, was approved last year and contract documents are currently awaited from the local authority. The scheme is third in its priority list of sewerage schemes.
