Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the issue. As the Minister of State knows, the proposal to have Milltown sewerage scheme included for sanction by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was originally included in a bundle of four schemes for Milltown, Claregalway, Craughwell and Carraroe. It was probably one of the saddest days ever when four schemes like this were put together because it was obviously too big a bundle and there was no possibility of the four schemes proceeding together.

I was very glad to hear that Milltown and Claregalway would proceed as two schemes, as they are most important. Claregalway is in west Galway and Deputies from there have been making the case for that village. However, I know more about Milltown because it is in north Galway in my constituency. It is located on the N17 north of Tuam and it is one of the tidiest villages in the county. It is appalling that it has taken 20 years to even get the scheme on a list for submission to the Department. If sanction cannot be obtained for a sewerage scheme in the village, it will be difficult to cater for further development there. A temporary sewerage scheme is in place on one estate in the village. Milltown is on the River Clare, which flows into the River Corrib and, therefore, pollution is a serious threat.

It is heartening, however, that sites are available for the sewerage schemes in both Claregalway and Milltown. The local GAA club has made a site available in Milltown and the Planning and Development Acts has been availed of for both schemes. There is no reason, therefore, that they should not proceed together. Many building contractors would be glad of the opportunity to proceed with the schemes while maintaining the economies of scale required. However, the lesson is there is no need to bundle schemes in large packages. It might be better to proceed with one scheme, as happened in most cases in the pasts. It is not good to bundle schemes but Galway County Council has submitted the schemes for Milltown and Claregalway as a bundle and they are on the Department's list. I hope the Minister for State will have news that they will proceed together.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a gabháil leis an Teachta as an deis an scéal seo a shoiléiriú.

My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, cannot be present and he asked me to take this matter on his behalf. The Milltown and Claregalway sewerage schemes are both included for funding in the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. When this programme was published in 2007, it was envisaged that Milltown and Claregalway would be advanced as part of a four-scheme bundle, which would also include the Craughwell and Carraroe schemes. The preliminary reports for Claregalway and Milltown were approved by the Department in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The contract documentation for these schemes was submitted to the Department for approval in 2008. However, at that stage, the component relating to the collection networks was not accompanied by the certificate of completion of planning necessary for the examination of the contract documentation by the Department. When the contract documentation was submitted for Milltown and Claregalway, Galway County Council also submitted a proposal to unbundle these schemes from the Craughwell and Carraroe schemes. The Department is considering this proposal in the context of the examination of the contract documents.

The Department works in close co-operation with Galway County Council in the progression of all the schemes in the county. The schemes for Milltown and Claregalway are among the 50 major water and sewerage schemes included in current investment programme for County Galway. The priority to be accorded to individual schemes is a matter, in the first instance, for Galway County Council.

Last July, local authorities were asked to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services in their areas to the Department by 23 October. The Department is examining these assessments, which will form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 water services investment programme. In conducting their assessments, local authorities were asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression over the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria. The 2010 to 2012 programme will be a three-year rolling plan for the provision of major water supply and wastewater infrastructure.

Strategic environmental and economic objectives have provided the rationale for investment in water services infrastructure since 2000. With the changed economic climate, and the completion of the first cycle of river basin management plans by local authorities in the near future, there is a greater need than ever to focus on these key priorities. The 2010 to 2012 programme will do this by prioritising projects that target public health and environmental compliance issues, support economic and employment growth, and offer best value for money. The Department expects to publish the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 early next year. I assure the Deputy that the Department will work closely with Galway County Council to advance priority schemes identified in the programme.