Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

387 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious planning issues that cannot be resolved due to the fact that finance is required to undertake the Graiguenamanagh sewerage scheme; the reason for the two year delay in sanctioning the necessary finance; if all the necessary documentation is with his Department for a considerable period of time and that the question of a financial allocation is the only outstanding matter at this stage; if he will sanction this project to contract stage without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9796/99]

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

Contract documents for the Graiguenamanagh sewerage scheme have been received in my Department but have not been approved. 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 list will be taken into consideration by my Department in framing future water and sewerage services investment programmes under the next National Development Plan 2000-2006. In the meanwhile, the scheme will be considered, along with all other competing proposals, under the rural towns and villages initiate, details of which will be announced as soon as possible.