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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

159 Mr. McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will consider the provision of approximately ?391,000 to the IDA, which is the estimated cost of carrying out remedial works on the sewer and services at Ballybrit, Galway, to enable these sewers to be taken in charge by Galway City Council, as considerable development depends on the city council being able to take those sewers in charge. [20232/02]

The management of the industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day matter for IDA Ireland and not one in which I have a direct function. I have not received any requests for funding from the IDA in relation to the remedial works for the sewer and services at Ballybrit. I understand that the services in question were constructed by IDA Ireland in the mid 1970s and involved bringing foul sewer-surface sewer and water services from the then existing services at IDA Ireland's Ballybrit Industrial Estate to service new lands acquired by the agency at Parkmore, located to the west of Galway city.

These services are owned by IDA Ireland and are the sole means of providing these services to the Galway Business and Technology Park – Parkmore east and west. At the time of construc tion, all costs – which were considerable – attributed to the development of these services were borne by IDA Ireland. While IDA Ireland has indicated it has no objection in principle to the taking-in-charge of these services by Galway County Council, it must be noted that this would represent no strategic benefit to the agency in its industrial development remit. Thus, it is the view of the IDA that, in any such transfer, a proportion of the remaining capacity in both the foul sewer and the water supply must be reserved for industrial development use. This remaining capacity is vital for the future marketing and development of the Galway Business and Technology Park, which is dependant on having a water supply and foul disposal capability that meets with the potential needs of IDA client companies. Galway City Council has informed IDA Ireland that it requires the agency to undertake approximately €400,000 of remedial works to the services infrastructure prior to Galway City Council taking the services in charge. The works in question relate to parts of the infrastructure which may need future replacement in the short to medium term due to its age. It is the view of IDA Ireland that the services infrastructure does not require remedial expenditure of the magnitude required by Galway City Council. The agency currently has no plans to undertake the remedial works required by Galway City Council, as they are not deemed necessary at this time. I understand ongoing discussions are taking place between the IDA and the county council on this issue with a view to resolving the matter to the satisfaction of both parties.
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