Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy McGrath for the opportunity to clarify the position in regard to the Burncourt and Fethard regional water supply scheme water treatment plants. The contract for the scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 as a contract to commence during the period of the programme. Further network elements of the scheme are also included to advance through planning in the lifetime of the programme. The proposed Burncourt and Fethard scheme is intended to boost the water supply in the south east and west of the county and resolve the water quality issues with the present supply.

My Department approved South Tipperary County Council's design proposals for the scheme in December 2008 and the council is proceeding with the detailed planning of the scheme. As part of this process the council required a new abstraction order which has now been obtained. I understand the site investigation process is ongoing and that the council proposes to commence the tender process for the contract for the water treatment plants in mid-2011. It is expected that this contract could be completed in early 2013, subject to obtaining the necessary departmental approvals as the process advances.

At a national level the continued high levels of funding in recent years for the water services investment programme and rural water programme demonstrate the Government's ongoing commitment to the sector. Investment in the period 2000-09 has seen an increase in water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 1.1 million and an increase in storage capacity equivalent to 1.6 million.

My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, sets out the plans for investment in major water supply projects. In the case of water supply infrastructure the programme includes provision for increased treatment and storage capacity, where appropriate, in order to meet key environmental and economic objectives over that period. Including water conservation works, the programme's water supply component comprises more than 180 contracts to be progressed to construction over the period 2010-12, with a value of over €800 million, and some 100 schemes on which planning work will continue.

A comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure has been approved for South Tipperary County Council - the total value of contracts under way and those proposed for commencement in south Tipperary during the period of the programme is just over €41 million. It is desirable that the Burncourt and Fethard scheme should commence construction and be completed as quickly as possible. My Department is doing everything it can to ensure this happens.

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