Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The water services investment programme for the period 2005-07 contained 899 projects at various stages of development, the full cost of which was €5 billion. I do not believe there was a lack of investment.

The answer to Deputy Kenny on the decline in the figures is that Ringsend, the most significant single water scheme carried out in Europe, was included in the base figures. When that scheme was finished, it came out of the base figures. The first ever concerted programme to address the quality of water in group water schemes is nearing completion. We introduced a Water Services Bill four years ago which is now finishing in this House. Work has gone on to consolidate and modernise the existing codes of water schemes.

I will not get myself into the middle of local Galway politics, but it is a fact that €21 million was provided over three years ago to allow the local authority to implement the scheme.

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