Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 3

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

270 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in view of the recent announcement by his Department on public-private partnership for sewage treatment, the position regarding management arrangements; the body which decides on the charges to households; the body which has the ultimate control of the ownership of the plant; the management plans he will put in place between the local authority, the Department and households; and if he will make a statement on the provisions being put in place for the operation of this scheme. [28197/00]

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

I presume that the Deputy is referring to my Department's request to Kilkenny County Council to submit a report on the suitability of the Kilmacow sewerage scheme for procurement as a public-private partnership under a design-build or design-build-operate contract.

Until such time as the report is furnished to the Department, and a decision is made on the way the project is to proceed, it is not possible to anticipate the arrangements that will be put in place for the operation of the treatment plant. However, it is envisaged that the plant concerned will be in the ownership of the local authority.

Domestic water and sewerage charges were abolished under the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act, 1997, and there are no proposals to change that position.