Vol. 502 No. 6
226 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will grant aid a water scheme to bring water from Loughrea to Craughwell; if the necessary plans have been submitted by Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9376/99]
250 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when financing of Craughwell water scheme from the Loughrea scheme will be approved in order to upgrade existing supply which is of poor quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9064/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 250 together.
A revised proposal for an extension of the Loughrea regional water supply scheme to Craughwell was recently received in my Department. As the scheme is not included in the 1999 Water and Sewerage Services Investment Programme it comes within the terms of my Department's circular letter L9/98 of 22 October 1998. This circular asked each local authority to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in its area and to prepare a prioritised list of projects based on the assessment. The priority lists will be taken into consideration by my Department in framing future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the next National Development Plan 2000-06. In the meanwhile the scheme will be considered, along with all the other competing proposals, under the rural towns and villages initiative, details of which will be announced as soon as possible.
