asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of each water, sewerage and housing scheme submitted by Galway local authorities which are awaiting his approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Galway Sewerage and Housing Schemes.
473.
Contract documents are under consideration in my Department for the following three water and sewerage schemes in County Galway: Rosmuck water supply improvement scheme; Mountbellew water supply improvement scheme; and Ballinasloe (UDC) sewerage improvement scheme — contracts 9, 10 and 11.
The local authorities' proposals for these three schemes must be considered in the context of the overall amount of capital available for sanitary services schemes and the need to provide finance for the large number of fully approved schemes in progress or getting to construction throughout the country and for which adequate finance must be provided. I am not, at present, in a position to say when approval of the relevant contract documents will issue to the local authorities.
There are no housing schemes from Galway local authorities before my Department awaiting approval. Under devolved procedures, local authorities may build schemes of up to 60 houses without my prior sanction, subject to agreement on unit cost figures, compliance with general recommendations as regards acquisition of sites, standards etc.; the house plans and site plans being cleared with my Department's inspector for the area; and keeping within the available capital allocation.