Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2006
962 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when his Department will make funding available to Cork County Council to provide for a sewerage scheme in Carrigimina, Macroom. [14599/06]
View answerNo proposals have been received by my Department from Cork County Council for sewerage works in Carrigimina nor were any such proposals included in the list of schemes submitted by the council in response to my Department's request to local authorities in 2003 to undertake fresh assessments of the needs for capital works in their areas. Accordingly, no provision has been made for a proposal for Carrigimina in the water services investment programme for 2005 to 2007.
Local authorities have, however, recently been asked to carry out a new assessment of needs and to review their water and waste water infrastructural priorities in light of economic, demographic and other developments that have taken place since the previous needs assessments were completed. Priorities emerging from this process will be reflected in future phases of the water services investment programme. It is also open to Cork County Council to allocate funding for a sewerage scheme in Carrigimina under its rural water programme for which the council has €5.247 million available from my Department in 2006.
963 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to implement the commitment in the Government’s water pricing policy framework to meet fully the domestic element of operating costs of new water services schemes through the local government fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14600/06]
View answerThe Government's national water services pricing policy framework requires local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the sole exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. The capital cost of domestic water services is funded in full by the Exchequer and has benefited from a significant investment of €2.7 billion since 2000. The operational cost of providing water services for domestic purposes is met by grants from the local government fund, in particular through the general purpose grant which will amount to some €875 million in 2006. I believe that with prudent use of this funding and the pursuit of further efficiencies and expenditure rationalisation, local authorities will be adequately resourced to meet demands, including domestic water services provision, in 2006 and beyond.
964 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to assist Waterford County Council to bring about the speedy rationalisation and upgrading of the council’s 102 public water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14601/06]
View answerUnder my Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007, Waterford County Council has been approved for total funding of €167.587 million in respect of 24 water and sewerage schemes, including an allocation of €2.6 million in respect of water conservation. Three of these schemes are at construction, the Dunmore East water supply scheme is due to commence construction later this year and the remainder are in planning.
Local authorities have recently been asked to carry out a fresh assessment of needs and to submit this to my Department for approval. I expect Waterford County Council to use this opportunity to review the council's water and waste water infrastructural priorities in light of economic, demographic and other developments that have taken place since the previous needs assessments were completed. Priorities emerging from this process will be reflected in future phases of the water services investment programme.
I have also recently introduced new procedures to accelerate individual water and sewerage schemes through the procurement process. These procedures, drawn up in consultation with the local authorities, provide that an individual scheme with a value of up to €5 million may, following preliminary approval by my Department, proceed to construction without further reference to the Department. This reduces from four to two the number of stages that are subject to departmental approval prior to the commencement of construction.
965 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to assist Waterford County Council to fast-track the proposed west Waterford regional water supply scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14602/06]
View answerThe west Waterford water supply scheme and strategic study, estimated cost €2.86 million, is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007. The scheme is due to commence construction in 2007 and the submission of the preliminary report for the scheme is awaited in my Department. I recently introduced new procedures to accelerate individual water and sewerage schemes through the procurement process. These procedures, drawn up in consultation with the local authorities, provide that an individual scheme with a value of up to €5 million may, following preliminary approval by my Department, proceed to construction without further reference to the Department. This reduces from four to two the number of stages that are subject to departmental approval prior to the commencement of construction. Subject to the submission of certain limited additional information, the new procedures will also be applicable to the west Waterford water supply scheme and strategic study.
