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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 6

Other Questions. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

20 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if funds will be allocated for a sewerage treatment plant at Ardmore, County Waterford. [14450/99]

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

23 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the provision of a sewerage treatment plant at Ardmore, County Waterford, which is a strategic seaside resort will be treated as a matter of urgency. [14451/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 23 together.

I remind Deputies that the amount of time is doubled where two oral questions are taken together in ordinary time.

I assure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle that my reply to this question will not take long. I recently approved funding for the Ardmore sewerage scheme under the rural towns and villages initiative which was announced on budget day. The estimated cost of the scheme is £1.02 million.

There is nothing like an impending election to encourage rapid results. Two weeks ago I squeezed £112,000 out of the Department of the Marine for a new wall for the harbour in Ardmore. Today we will obtain £1.02 million for the sewerage scheme, which is very welcome.

A question please, Deputy.

Will the Minister indicate if the preliminary report submitted by Waterford County Council is sufficient in order to permit the scheme to proceed this year.

As already stated, this scheme falls under the rural towns and villages initiative. This initiative, in respect of which £45 million was allocated in the budget, is designed to bring water and sewerage facilities to rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Once a scheme has been announced and funding allocated, that funding is made available. The scheme's commencement then rests with the local authority concerned and is dependent on the speed with which it produces proposals and documents.

There will be no delay in the scheme's commencement from the Department's point of view because the relevant funding has already been made available. Commencement now depends on the speed with which Waterford County Council can finalise its proposals. I understand the council is in a position to appoint consultants to prepare the contract documents. When that happens, it will be in a position to invite tenders.

I thank the Minister for that welcome assurance. He will be aware that Ardmore is one of the major tourist resorts on the south coast and it badly needs a sewerage treatment plant. I hope the work will commence and conclude in the current year.

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