Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Since its adoption in 2002, the objectives of the national spatial strategy have been among the key criteria local authorities have taken into consideration in their needs assessments for new water services infrastructure. It will be no surprise, therefore, that the current water services investment programme, announced by the Minister last September, allows for investment of some €2.6 billion in the hubs and gateways over the next few years. The programme is available in the Oireachtas Library.

The range of new water and sewerage schemes planned and in progress in the hubs and gateways provides strong evidence of the Government's determination to safeguard the environment in these areas while making provision for new housing, new jobs and all the other requirements of a successful hub or gateway location.

In the period since 2000, over 400 water services infrastructure schemes have been completed by the Department, many in hubs and gateways. The completion of major wastewater infrastructure projects in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway are cases in point. In the hub town of Ennis, the Department is providing substantial funding towards new long-term water services infrastructure which will serve the objectives of the national spatial strategy and benefit the residential and business communities in the town.

Three major water supply scheme projects are included in the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 to 2009. A new water treatment plant is being constructed as part of the Ennis town water supply treatment scheme. I understand the council signed the €8.3 million contract in July 2007 and work will be finished in February 2009. The Ennis town water supply augmentation scheme, which will supplement the Ennis supply with water from Castlelake, is in the programme at an estimated cost of €6.3 million. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government approved Clare County Council's proposals to lay the pipework for the scheme in conjunction with the Ennis Road bypass and completion of these works is a matter for the council.

The water services investment programme also contains the €21 million Castlelake water supply scheme, which will improve the Castlelake source to cater for future needs. I understand the Department is awaiting a brief from Clare County Council for the appointment of consultants to draw up the preliminary report for the scheme. Also included in the programme is the Ennis-Clarecastle sewerage scheme which will cost in the region of €58 million.

The Minister is aware that there have been problems with the town's present water supply for some time and there is a continuing precautionary boil water regime in place for certain groups, such as the elderly, the very young and people who are immuno-compromised. This is not what should be expected in this day and age. However, I understand the council has tried to minimise the problems by installing a temporary water treatment plant while the new permanent €8.3 million treatment works is constructed. The Minister provided special local government fund assistance towards the running costs of this temporary plant in 2006 and 2007 and will soon announce the 2008 round of allocations.

I understand the temporary plant has been unable to meet demand in recent days. Clearly, it would be much better if this situation had not come about. However, a temporary plant is just that and cannot be expected to perform as well as the new permanent treatment facility which will come on stream next year. The Minister shares what must be the view of everyone in the town that progress with the new plant must be kept on track in terms of time and I understand Clare County Council is doing everything possible to ensure it is completed on time. In the meantime, it is a matter for the council, as the statutory water services authority, to take whatever steps are needed to ensure the requirements of all consumers in the town are accommodated to the greatest extent possible.

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