Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate the opportunity to clarify the position on this scheme. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter.

Freshford is part of the Freshford, Johnstown and Goresbridge sewerage scheme which is approved to advance through planning under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. The three locations have been combined under one scheme so that the overall package can be procured under a single contract. This will optimise the cost of building the infrastructure and will speed up the delivery phase since the same contractor will be involved from design through to completion.

The scheme is one of 18 water services projects being progressed in County Kilkenny at present with the support of unprecedented Exchequer funding from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under the national development plan. The current water services programme, which the Minister published in September 2007, provides for an investment of €127 million in water and sewerage infrastructure in County Kilkenny in the next few years. A copy of the programme is available in the Oireachtas Library. The range of new water and sewerage works planned and in progress is clear evidence of the Government's determination to safeguard the environment, while at the same time making appropriate provision to secure new development areas across the country.

The €7.9 million Freshford - Johnstown - Goresbridge scheme involves the expansion and overhaul of the existing wastewater treatment plants in each location, with major upgrading of the sewage collection networks. The expanded treatment plants will have a combined capacity to cater for a population equivalent of 5,000. Capacity at the Freshford plant is being increased to deal with a population equivalent of 2,000. This will ensure that existing needs are fully met and that there is scope to deal with additional demand for future development.

The preliminary report for the scheme, which sets out the design parameters and objectives, was submitted to the Department by Kilkenny County Council last week. The Deputy will appreciate that multi-million euro projects that are being funded by the taxpayer must go through the proper planning and development processes to ensure that they meet their intended objectives, that they are designed and constructed in an environmentally acceptable and economical manner and that they produce treated wastewater or drinking water, as the case may be, to a standard that meets national and EU requirements.

The Department is examining the preliminary report in this case and will respond to the council as soon as possible. Obviously it is not possible at this early stage to say whether the preliminary report is in order. However, the objective of the response will be to guide the council on how to advance the scheme through the remaining stages with the least possible delay. The Department will continue to work closely with Kilkenny County Council to ensure the scheme is delivered as soon as possible.

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