Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 November 2012

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Questions (160)

Joan Collins

Question:

160. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that earlier this year Sligo County Council received tenders for the work for the Grange, Strandhill and Tubbercurry sewerage schemes waste water treatment plants upgrades; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Strandhill scheme is currently overloaded and that the upgrading works are urgently required on all three schemes; the date on which he will approve funding for the schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51751/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Grange/Strandhill/Tubbercurry Sewerage Scheme (Wastewater Treatment Plants Upgrade) is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a contract to start at an estimated cost of €10.8 million during the lifetime of the Programme. Under this scheme it is envisaged that wastewater treatment plants will be constructed at these three locations under a single Design/Build/Operate contract.

While a tender process was completed for the scheme some time ago, funding issues which arose for the Council delayed the advancing of the scheme. This delay and statutory / regulatory developments in the interim, have led to a necessary re-assessment of how this work should proceed. In June 2012 my Department requested Sligo County Council to carry out a cost assessment of the proposed works and to prepare a short design review of the scheme, taking into account developments and changes in the interim period. My Department is awaiting the Council’s proposals in that regard.