Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise in the House the matter of the proposed new waste water treatment system for Kildare. The proposal to upgrade the Kildare sewerage scheme dates back more than two decades and the current proposal, which forms part of the national development plan, has been approved in principle in the water services investment programme for 2007 to 2009 of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.

There are two aspects to this project, which it is estimated will cost more than €21 million. It will involve the construction of a new treatment plant, with a capacity of 28,000 people's equivalent, P.E., in modular form on the existing site at Tully Road, Kildare, as well as the further construction of a new collection system with a new outfall to the River Barrow.

Over the period from 2003 to 2004, interim works, which cost in excess of €500,000 were carried out on the existing plant, due to the failure of the high rate biological filter. However, the case for an entirely new waste water facility is overwhelming. For several years, all the development in Kildare town has ceased, save that undertaken by the local authority itself, due to a lack of sewage treatment capacity. At the height of the boom, when construction was under way throughout the county and nationwide, zoned lands around Kildare town remained undeveloped, which forced the sons and daughters of local people to travel southward along the N7 to source affordable accommodation in places like Portarlington, Ballybrittas and Mountmellick. In the absence of an adequate treatment system, jobs also have been lost to the area. New enterprises that were interested in establishing businesses locally have been lost, while established businesses in expansion mode have moved out of the town when faced with a planning policy that refuses to allow any new buildings to be occupied, pending the commissioning of a new treatment plant.

Therefore, it is evident that the local community has suffered in respect of housing availability and employment. However, the lack of visible progress to date with the sewage treatment project also has affected the local environment. The existing sewage treatment plant discharges effluent to the nearby Tully river, or stream, which, via the Boherbaun river, is a tributary to the River Barrow. A recent water matter study of the Tully described its overall ecological status as "bad", while the river recorded a "fail" result under the general physicochemical heading. Obviously, this situation must not be allowed to continue.

Local councillors and planning officials will undertake the task shortly of making a new local area plan for the town while conscious that the last plan, which was adopted in 2002 following much work and careful consideration, had little effect due to the sewerage issue. On 2 April 2009, I was advised by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, that his Department had just received and would assess Kildare County Council's tender report for the expansion and upgrade of the treatment plant. The Minister further advised that his Department still awaited Kildare County Council's submissions of revised contract documents for the new collection system. I understand from Kildare County Council that it is hoped these documents will be with the Department by the end of June.

However, I must acknowledge the council has not achieved even one of the indicative timescales or target dates it set itself for this vital project. I ask the Minister to approve the tender report on the treatment plant element of the project which has been with his Department for some weeks now. Given that his Department has already allowed Kildare County Council to divide this scheme into two contracts, one for the plant and one for the collection system, I would respectfully suggest that the treatment plant be allowed to proceed and that no further time be lost unnecessarily in waiting for the council to address the collection system.

In advancing the delivery of the national development plan, the Government has decided to prioritise projects that carry economic, social and environmental benefits. I believe the Kildare wastewater treatment system is just such a project. I would also suggest that in a time when financial resources are seriously constrained, the Minister should consider innovative ways of delivering such schemes. As with the case of the Minister for Health and Children and the isolation units for cystic fibrosis patients at St. Vincent's Hospital, this design, build and operate project spread over 15 to 20 years might allow for deferral of initial payments, thereby reducing the burden on the Exchequer and the local authority in the initial stage.

We face many challenges in meeting the standards set down in the EU water framework directive. As a country, we are at risk of incurring heavy financial penalties. This is yet another reason this project should be allowed to move to construction without further delay.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position on this important scheme on behalf of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Kildare town sewerage scheme is included for funding in the current water services investment programme 2007-09 at an estimated cost of €21.4 million. The scheme will provide for the expansion of the existing wastewater treatment plant, the upgrading of the town's existing collection system and the construction of new sewers to the west and south east of the town. This will have both economic and environmental benefits. In addition to facilitating future residential, commercial and industrial growth in the town, the scheme will also improve water quality in local waterways such as the Tully Stream and the Finnery River, which, in turn, feeds the River Barrow.

The Minister's Department is currently examining Kildare County Council's tender report and recommendation for the wastewater treatment plant element of the scheme, which were recently received. The council expects to submit the contract documents for the collection networks to the Department shortly.

Looking at the wider picture, a provision of €500 million is available for the water services investment programme for 2009, which is a 1% increase on the record outturn on the programme for last year. The Minister expects that the available resources will allow up to 50 major new schemes to commence this year, some of which have already begun. His Department will prioritise the remaining schemes yet to begin, including the Kildare town sewerage scheme, having regard to both environmental and economic objectives, namely, schemes required to meet national and EU environmental standards in regard to drinking water and wastewater disposal, European Court of Justice cases and works that will support the economic development of hubs and gateways under the national spatial strategy. Due priority will also need to be given to water conservation measures.

Taking account of the aforementioned objectives, the Department will work with local authorities over the coming months to identify the priority projects to form the basis of the next phase of the water services investment programme. The Kildare town sewerage scheme will be considered as part of this process. The Minister assures the Deputy that he is fully aware of the importance of this scheme to Kildare town. His Department and Kildare County Council will continue to work closely together to ensure that the council is in a position to advance the scheme should it be approved to start later this year.