Cork City Council has an allocation of €13.030 million available under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 for water conservation purposes. The revised Preliminary Report for the replacement and rehabilitation of water mains under Phase 2 of the Council's Water Conservation Programme is being assessed by my Department and a decision on it will be conveyed to the Council in due course.
Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services, including water conservation works, to my Department by 23 October. These assessments will form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 Water Services Investment Programme. In conducting their assessments, local authorities were asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression over the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria. It is anticipated that the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 will be published in early 2010.