Michael Collins
Question:273 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in the provision of the proposed sewage scheme in Athea, County Limerick. [34687/06]
View answerWednesday, 25 October 2006
Questions (212, 213)
Written answers
The Athea Sewerage Scheme, which is being advanced as part of a grouped project that also involves Askeaton, Foynes, Glin and Shanagolden, is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction in 2007.
My Department is awaiting submission of Limerick County Council's Preliminary Reports for the project.
Michael Collins
Question:274 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in the provision of all sewerage schemes in County Limerick. [34688/06]
View answerDetails of the major sewerage schemes in County Limerick that have been approved for funding by my Department, together with scheduled commencement dates, are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Information on smaller schemes, for which full responsibility has been devolved to Limerick County Council, may be obtained from the Council.
Local authorities are the procurement bodies for individual schemes included in the Programme and are responsible for producing necessary Design Briefs, Contract Documents etc and for advancing each of their schemes to completion. Insofar as particular stages of schemes need approval by my Department, I have introduced more streamlined approval procedures in order to reduce administration and accelerate progress. For example, I have reduced from four to two the number of stage approvals local authorities need to obtain from my Department for schemes costing less than €5m. I continue to keep the approval procedures under review.