Water and Sewerage Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2012

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Questions (306)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

358 Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a sewerage scheme for Creggs, County Galway, will be included in the next water services investment programme for the county in view of the fact that current arrangements for the village are unsatisfactory and the village was included in Galway County Council’s water services assessment of needs submitted to his Department in July 2006 but was not included in the water services investment programme for 2010 to 2012 and thus has not been advanced any further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12423/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Galway. The programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €130 million in Co. Galway during the period of the programme.

The programme aims to prioritise projects that target environmental compliance issues and support economic and employment growth. A key input to the development of the programme was the assessment of needs prepared by local authorities, including Galway County Council, in response to my Department's request to the authorities in 2009 to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. However, the Creggs Sewerage Scheme was not amongst the contracts and schemes included in Galway County Council's assessment of needs.

Progress under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 was reviewed in mid-2011 and through this process, consideration was given to any newly emerging priority contracts and schemes submitted by local authorities for addition to the Programme. No proposal for the Creggs Sewerage Scheme was received from Galway County Council in response to the review.