Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him well in future. I also thank him for responding to the matter I raise, namely, a request to commence and complete at an early date the Fethard regional water supply scheme in south Tipperary. People in the area, whose main settlements are Fethard, Strangan, Mullinahone, Killenaule and their hinterlands, have suffered for years owing to poor, limited and frequently interrupted water supply.

Water is a basic need in the 21st century but water supply to the area in question is interrupted regularly. Not a week passes without a break being identified and supply interrupted to families and businesses in the area. The mains are old and can be compared to strainers. At this point, repairs to the mains are a waste of time and public money. Even on the completion of repairs, it can take up to two days for supply to be reconnected to the entire area.

A number of schemes are awaiting commencement and completion. These are a scheme to construct a treatment plant, a further scheme for a mains replacement and a more short-term, interim scheme to provide a new bore hole for the area. I am aware that significant work has been done on this matter by officials of South Tipperary County Council and the Department and detailed communications between the council and Department are ongoing.

I ask the Minister to fast-track the schemes in question. The Department is awaiting tender documents from South Tipperary County Council which are almost ready and will shortly be submitted to the Department. I ask that the process be fast-tracked as soon as the documents are received. People in the area have been suffering as a result of an inadequate water supply for years. As I indicated, it is interrupted weekly and, in some cases, daily.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Healy for his remarks and for raising the position regarding the Fethard regional water supply scheme. The scheme in question is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 as a contract to commence in the lifetime of the programme. As the Deputy noted, the Department is waiting for further information and tender documents from South Tipperary County Council. Once these documents have been received, it will be in a position to consider them.

The Part 8 planning process was successfully completed earlier this year. The site investigation process is ongoing and South Tipperary County Council proposes to commence the tender process for the contract for the water treatment plants in mid-2011. It is envisaged that the contract could be completed in early 2013, subject to obtaining the necessary approvals from the Department as the process advances.

In September 2010, my Department approved funding of €9 million to allow the council to carry out mains rehabilitation on the Fethard regional water supply scheme ahead of the main scheme. These works are to be carried out under the water conservation element of my Department's water services investment programme. South Tipperary County Council is preparing contract documents for these advance works. The council expects that it will be in a position to go to construction in mid-2012 and the contract could be completed in the third quarter of 2013. The works, when completed, will ensure a continuous water supply for the Fethard area.

My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, sets out the plans for investment in major water supply projects. 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 slightly more than €41 million.

It is important that the Fethard and Burncourt regional water supply scheme water treatment plants contract and mains rehabilitation works reach construction stage and are completed as quickly as possible. I undertake to give the matter priority when the documents are lodged with the Department.