The Newport Regional Water Supply Scheme is included as a scheme to start construction during the period of the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. My Department has already approved the funding to enable North Tipperary County Council to award the contract for this Scheme; accordingly, the timing of the commencement of the contract is a matter for the Council.
My Department requested local authorities, including North Tipperary County Council, to submit applications earlier this year setting out their borrowing requirements to progress their water services projects in 2010, and a decision on those applications, including in respect of the Council's share of the Newport Scheme costs, will issue to the relevant local authorities shortly.