Vol. 537 No. 3
187 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that an application from Westmeath County Council for approval to seek contract documents to erect a reservoir at Croughill, Loughnavalley, to install a rising mains and booster pump to help augment and ensure an adequate water supply for the residents of Castletown Geoghan and the surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16181/01]
This proposal was included in the list of water and sewerage schemes submitted by Westmeath County Council in response to my Department's request to local authorities to undertake a fresh assessment of the needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their proposals on the basis of the assessments. The lists were taken into account in the framing of the Water Services Investment Programme 2000-2002 announced last July. Given the level of competing demand, the limited funding available, and the fact that Westmeath County Council has not ranked its proposals in priority order, it was not possible to include it in the programme at that time.
