Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
722. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he did not include Doolin sewerage scheme in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46973/13]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Clare. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence t o the value of some €41 million in County Clare 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 Clare 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.
Last month my Department wrote to Clare County Council, in response to the Council’s request to have the scheme included in the current Water Services Investment Programme, advising that the Doolin Sewerage Scheme could not be considered for inclusion in the current Programme at this time. From 1 January 2014 Irish Water will be responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure and is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 - 2015. My Department has advised the Council that it is open to it to make a business case to Irish Water to have particular schemes included in the Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2015.
