Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Climate Conference.

John Gormley

Ceist:

526 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the call to the nations gathered at the Buenos Aires climate conference issued by the European Federation of Green Parties (details supplied); and if he will confirm that his general approach as a national delegate to that conference will be congruent with the perspective articulated in that document. [21884/98]

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

I am aware of the document issued by the European Federation of Green Parties to which the Deputy refers.

My approach at the Fourth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Buenos Aires will be in line with the EU position, which is committed to making substantial progress on the outstanding issues under both the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol to maintain the momentum of Kyoto.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

527 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the loan, approved by his Department under the extension of services scheme for projects relating to Nenagh sewerage scheme will be paid to Nenagh Urban District Council; the amount of funding approved for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21885/98]

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

Elements of the Nenagh sewerage scheme, costing £663,000, were approved by me last week under the second tranche of funding for the serviced land initiative. In accordance with the terms of the initiative, my Department will be providing 40 per cent funding for this scheme with the balance to be met by Nenagh Urban District Council and funded primarily through development levies.

As indicated in a circular issued by my Department in December last year, I will consider approving on a case by case basis the raising of loan finance by local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (No. 2) Act 1960, for the purpose of funding that element of a scheme that will not be partfinanced under the initiative. Nenagh Urban District Council wrote to my Department in August this year seeking approval to raise a loan for elements of the Nenagh sewerage scheme should they be approved under the initiative. This application will now need to be revised given the scope and cost of the scheme that was recently approved. As soon as the revised application is submitted it will be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

529 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will sanction an extension of sewerage facilities at Portumna, County Galway along the Killimor road in order to accommodate the expansion at Woodpark; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21887/98]

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

Work has recently commenced on a major sewerage scheme at Portumna which includes a new wastewater treatment plant and the upgrading of the existing collection system. There are no proposals with my Department to extend the sewerage scheme to serve the Killimor-Woodpark area.