The Water and Sewerage Services Investment Programme 2000-2002 provides for £2 million in respect of the planning and development of Phases 1A and 1B of the Kildare water supply strategy, which includes the preparation of the Water Abstraction Order. In July 2000, I approved the appointment by Kildare County Council of consultants to prepare a proposal for a Water Abstraction Order in respect of the River Barrow under the Water Supplies Act, 1942. Where a local authority makes a proposal to take a supply of water from a source and no objections are received it is empowered to take the water in accordance with the proposal. Where objections are received it may apply for a provisional order declaring that the proposal may come into force.
No application for a provisional order in connection with a proposal to take a supply of water from the River Barrow has been received in my Department from Kildare County Council. The functions of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government relating to provisional orders under the Water Supplies Act, 1942, were transferred to An Bord Pleanála with effect from 1 January 2001. Any inquiries in this matter should therefore now be referred to An Bord Pleanála.