Vol. 537 No. 5
396 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the contracts for the new sewerage plant at Castledermot, County Kildare have been signed; if so, when construction will start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16824/01]
The report on tenders submitted by Kildare County Council on 30 April 2001 in respect of the Castledermot sewage treatment plant is currently under examination in my Department and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
397 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if an application from Kildare County Council in relation to the extraction of water from the River Barrow has been received in his Department; the funding necessary for such a scheme; the stage at which the proposal is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16825/01]
The Water and Sewerage Services Investment Programme 2000-2002 provides for £2 million in respect of the planning and development of Phases 1A and 1B of the Kildare water supply strategy, which includes the preparation of the Water Abstraction Order. In July 2000, I approved the appointment by Kildare County Council of consultants to prepare a proposal for a Water Abstraction Order in respect of the River Barrow under the Water Supplies Act, 1942. Where a local authority makes a proposal to take a supply of water from a source and no objections are received it is empowered to take the water in accordance with the proposal. Where objections are received it may apply for a provisional order declaring that the proposal may come into force.
No application for a provisional order in connection with a proposal to take a supply of water from the River Barrow has been received in my Department from Kildare County Council. The functions of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government relating to provisional orders under the Water Supplies Act, 1942, were transferred to An Bord Pleanála with effect from 1 January 2001. Any inquiries in this matter should therefore now be referred to An Bord Pleanála.
398 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he announced the additional finance to Kilkenny County Council to allow Castlewarren group water scheme to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16826/01]
My Department has notified a block grant of £1.075 million to Kilkenny County Council for the current year in respect of the group schemes and small public schemes measures of the devolved rural water programme. It is a matter for local authorities themselves to prioritise and approve individual schemes for assistance from their annual block grants. As Kilkenny County Council has not yet drawn down any of its block grant allocation for this year, the question of an additional allocation does not arise at this time.
