Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Clune for the opportunity to outline the position in respect of the upgrading of water services infrastructure in the Cork area. An extensive range of water services projects is, with Exchequer funding support, being progressed in Cork county and city at present. Since entering Government, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has made water infrastructure a priority, and, as a result, he has ensured record investment in this area. Investment in water services infrastructure has averaged in the region of €500 million per year. A high level of investment has been maintained in 2011. In the case of Cork county and city, the Department spent almost €89 million on water services infrastructure in the period 2007 to 2009.

The water services investment programme 2010 to 2012 sets out the plans for investment in major water and waste water projects. These plans were drawn up following a root and branch review of water services capital investment. This included a review of all projects which were contemplated within the previous programme but which had not advanced to a substantial degree in order to ensure that the contracts and schemes to proceed would be fully aligned with key programme economic and environmental priorities.

A key input to this review was an assessment of needs conducted by local authorities, which identified priority projects for advancement in line with the overall programme objectives set out by the Department. The resulting programme provides for investment of more than €231 million in Cork county and in excess of €40 million in Cork city on water and wastewater contracts where construction is either under way or due to commence in the period of the programme. The programme also includes some 37 schemes in the Cork area, the planning of which is still to be advanced. The contracts identified for commencement in the period include mains rehabilitation contracts to the value of some €12 million in the case of Cork city and €23 million in the case of Cork county. This reflects the particular priority accorded to the advancement of mains rehabilitation works under the programme.

During the course of 2010, the Minister gave approval for the advancement of a number of contracts in the Cork County Council area. This included the allocation of funding to allow for the acceptance of tenders for contracts in respect of the upgrade of the water supply infrastruct

ure in Mallow and Ballyvinter and the construction of new wastewater treatment plants at Skibbereen, Baltimore, Schull and Dunmanway. In addition, the Minister allocated over €3 million to Cork County Council in 2010 under the rural water programme. Submissions have been sought from county councils for funding under this programme in 2011 and allocations will be made in the near future. The Department will continue to work with both Cork City Council and Cork County Council in order to advance projects under these programmes as speedily as practicable.

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