Vol. 469 No. 6
46 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment if he will considerably increase the amount of money available for the provision of sewerage schemes and treatment plants for small towns and villages in order that villages, such as Cheekpoint, Dunmore East, Annestown, Tallow and Ardmore in County Waterford, can expect to have works of this nature carried out within a reasonable period. [17552/96]
This year, a total of £121.8 million is being provided through my Department's Vote for water and sewerage services, an increase in real terms of 10 per cent over the 1995 outturn. This represents one of the largest investments in these services ever undertaken and it is contributing substantially to the provision of services in small towns and villages.
In addition to the projects financed under the main programme, my Department's small schemes programme is aimed specifically at meeting the urgent water and sewerage needs of small towns and villages. This year, up to £4 million has been set aside for these schemes, including two water projects in County Waterford.
I have also introduced two other subprogrammes that will specifically help smaller towns and villages. The resorts initiative is designed to provide improved water and sewerage facilities at resort centres; schemes at nine centres, including Tramore, have already been approved, at a cost of £3 million. The second sub-programme provides support for the use of "reed bed technology" as a means of providing sewerage treatment facilities for small rural towns. A number of these projects have already been approved this year.
