Billy Timmins
Ceist:494 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he has sanctioned funding for the Arklow sewerage scheme; the amount sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26319/03]
Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
The Arklow main drainage scheme is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2003-05 as a scheme to commence construction in 2004 at an estimated cost of €15.6 million. The grant of planning permission for the proposed waste water treatment works has been the subject of High Court proceedings and an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Further progress with the scheme is dependent on the outcome of these proceedings.
Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:495 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he will consider raising the rate of the group sewerage scheme grant to match that of the group water scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26329/03]
Group sewerage scheme grants of up to 75% of cost, subject to a maximum grant of €2,031 per house, are available for the provision of common or shared waste water disposal systems. The national rural water monitoring committee is overseeing the implementation of a pilot programme by local authorities to test a range of new, small scale waste water collection and treatment systems, based on DBO procurement. Subject to a satisfactory outcome to the pilot testing, a potential role is envisaged for group sewerage schemes in the collection of domestic waste water from households outside the catchment of the new treatment systems. The confirmation of such a role for group sewerage schemes and any review of the associated grants must appropriately await the results of the pilot programme.