Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
376. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding plans by his Department and Sligo County Council to proceed with a wastewater treatment works for Mullaghmore and Cliffoney, County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16290/14]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provided for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Sligo. The Programme included contracts under construction and to commence to the value of over €49 million in County Sligo during the period of the Programme. While the Cliffoney Sewerage Scheme was included in the Programme as a Serviced Land Initiative Scheme, the Mullaghmore Sewerage Scheme was not amongst the priority contracts and schemes selected for inclusion in the Programme.
Progress under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 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 Mullaghmore Sewerage Scheme was received from Sligo County Council in response to the review. While Sligo County Council did not formally request under the review that the Cliffoney Sewerage Scheme be considered for inclusion in the Programme as a main scheme, the scheme was assessed at that time. However, it failed to meet the necessary criteria for inclusion in the Programme as a main scheme under this process. Sligo County Council subsequently requested my Department to discontinue this scheme as a Serviced Land Initiative Scheme.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is 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. The further progression of all water services capital projects, including the Cliffoney and Mullaghmore Sewerage Schemes, is now a matter for Irish Water.
My Department asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to the operation of water services under the new utility. I understand that Irish Water has made contact with Oireachtas members to outline the arrangements for addressing such queries in a timely manner.
