I propose to take Questions Nos. 545, 552 and 555 together.
Contracts for both a wastewater treatment plant upgrade, and network for the Bandon Sewerage Scheme, Phase 2, were included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 among the contracts to start during that period.
In February 2012 I approved funding of €3.9m for the network contract on the scheme; Cork County Council awarded the contract in March 2012 and the Contractor commenced work at that time. However, contractual issues subsequently emerged and the Contractor and the Council agreed to the termination of the contract by mutual consent. Cork County Council has appointed a consultant to complete the Contract Documents which will incorporate all of the outstanding works on the network element of the scheme. In respect of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade, Cork County Council were to prepare a Preliminary Report for this element of the scheme.
However, prior to the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure to Irish Water on 1 January 2014, the Council had not completed the Contract Documents for the Network Contract nor had they submitted a Preliminary Report for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Contract. Irish Water is now responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. It is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 that will provide for the transition of projects included in the 2010 - 2013 Water Services Investment Programme.