Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
841. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the provision of an upgraded sewerage scheme (details supplied); and if Limerick County Council has submitted its preliminary report for the scheme. [17420/13]
View answer842. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the sewage scheme in Bruff, County Limerick; if he has received a submission from Limerick County council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17422/13]
View answer843. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the upgrade of a sewerage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17423/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 841 to 843, inclusive, together.
The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Limerick. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €29 million in County Limerick during the period of the Programme.
The Drumcollogher Sewerage Scheme, comprising contracts for a wastewater treatment plant (Design Build Operate) and network, is included among the contracts to start during the period of the Programme at a total estimated cost of €5 million. A revised Preliminary Report for the scheme, received from the Council in January 2013, is being examined in my Department. A decision will issue to the Council as soon as possible.
The Bruff and Pallasgreen Sewerage Schemes were not amongst the priority contracts and schemes selected for inclusion in the current 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 Limerick 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. These were subsequently appraised in my Department in the context of the funds available and key criteria that complemented those used by the authorities. Inevitably, through this process, certain projects that had been proposed had to give way to others that were more strategically important at that time.
Progress under the Water Services Investment Programme 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 proposals for the Bruff and Pallasgreen Sewerage Schemes were received from Limerick County Council in response to the review process.
