Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Serviced Land Initiative.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

604 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of finance allocated under the serviced land initiative; the amount of this finance spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17990/99]

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

605 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of finance allocated since he took office in respect of the serviced land initiative; the amount of finance and location in respect of each initiative; the projects allocated this finance which have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17991/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 579, 604 and 605 together.

A capital provision of £39 million over three years has been made for the serviced land initiative. Combined with local authority contributions, mainly from development levies, this will mobilise total spending of £100 million on water and sewerage projects specifically targeted at easing pressure on housing supply. Details of the 167 schemes approved in the two initial tranches are available in the Oireachtas Library. In the meantime, the following additional schemes have been approved:

Local Authority	Scheme	EstimatedCost
		£
Laois County Council	Sleaty Road, Graiguecullen	90,000
Mayo County Council	Ballinrobe	446,200
Kildare County Council	Kilcullen	78,750
Cavan County Council	Rahardrum, Virginia	180,000
Limerick County Council	Mungret	600,000

The following 13 schemes have been reported by local authorities as complete:

Local Authority	Scheme
Cork County Council (north)	Fermoy
Cork County Council (south)	Glashaboy
Galway County Council	Tuam
Kerry County Council	CaherciveenCastleisland
Kildare County Council	KillKilcullen
Kilkenny County Council	Kilkenny East Environs
Laois County Council	Knockmay
Longford County Council	Ardnacassa
Louth County Council	Clogherhead
Waterford County Council	Ballymacarbry
Mayo County Council	Ballinrobe

In all, 99 schemes are scheduled to commence construction in 1999 which will produce in the region of 60,000 additional sites. A further 43 schemes, representing a further 35,000 sites, will commence next year. In general, once schemes are in progress work on construction of the houses which they will service can also start and run in parallel. To date, £1.1 million has been paid on foot of claims received from local authorities under the initiative.

Any additional proposals brought forward by the local authorities will be considered in the light of ongoing demand and progress with other approved projects.