Vol. 569 No. 3
404 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 600 of 25 March 2003, the funding which is being provided by his Department towards the project; if notification of this funding has issued to the relevant local authority; the proposed additional capacity that will be created; the amount available to County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17518/03]
The Drogheda sewage treatment plant extension, estimated to cost €9.5 million, is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2002-04 as a scheme to commence planning. The existing Drogheda sewage treatment plant has the capacity to treat wastewater from a population equivalent of 67,000. When constructed, the proposed scheme, which will primarily serve future development in the Louth and Meath areas, will see the capacity of the plant increase to serve a population equivalent of 102,000. The assignment of the additional treatment capacity will be on the basis agreed by the local authorities concerned.
Louth County Council has submitted the required water charging policy report to my Department detailing the proposed funding arrangements for the project. This report is currently under examination, in conjunction with the design review report and contract documents for the scheme, and the outcome of this examination will determine the level of funding to be provided by my Department.
