Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 3

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

22 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, his Department has approved for new water and sewerage schemes for Bohola, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13862/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The water supply to the village of Bohola and its rural hinterland is provided from a privately sourced group water scheme which serves around 450 houses and associated farms. Group water scheme capital grants of £440,000 have been approved for the upgrading of the scheme which includes the provision of new water filtration and disinfection facilities. My Department has been advised by Mayo County Council, the local authority responsible for the administration of the grant scheme in County Mayo, that tenders for the work are awaited from the group's consulting engineer and that members' contributions are now being collected. Work is expected to commence once these matters have been finalised.

In relation to sewerage, Mayo County Council submitted in 1994 a preliminary report for a proposed new sewerage scheme for Bohola, costing an estimated £500,000. However, given the existing level of commitments under the water and sewerage services investment programme I cannot say when it may be possible to approve this proposal. The Government has provided substantially increased funds for the provision of water and waste water infrastructure, as is evidenced by the extensive water and sewerage investment programme for 1998 which I announced last February. This programme provides for capital expenditure of almost £185 million on water and sewerage projects throughout the country, and represents an increase of over 13 per cent on 1997 expenditure and 50 per cent on the 1996 figure.

The investment programme includes no fewer than 15 schemes in County Mayo, with an estimated overall value of £65 million. In addition, an allocation of £789,000 was made to the council in respect of its rural water programme, and schemes with an estimated value of £2.47 million have been approved under the serviced land initiative.