Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
487. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money spent by his Department or Donegal County Council on a scheme (details supplied) in County Donegal each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35286/14]
View answer488. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of times his Department has approved the sending to tender of a scheme (details supplied) in County Donegal; the dates of each approval; the outcome of each tender; and the reason in each case it did not proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35287/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together.
The Gweedore Sewerage Scheme was included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013 as a scheme to commence construction during the lifetime of the Programme. In order for it to advance to tender stage it was necessary for Donegal County Council to prepare Contract Documents for the scheme and submit them to my Department.
In late 2013, Donegal County Council submitted the Contract Documents for the scheme to my Department for approval. Following an examination of these documents my Department issued approval to Donegal County Council which allowed the Council to advance the contract to tender stage. My Department recouped some €3.06m to the Council in respect of the Gweedore Sewerage Scheme up to the end of 2013.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has published its Proposed Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 and this is available on the Irish Water website www.water.ie. The further progression of all water services capital projects including the Gweedore Sewerage Scheme is now a matter for Irish Water to consider.
Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
