The south-east has six of the 19 towns under the aegis of the South-East Regional Authority's SERPANT project: Carlow, Clonmel, Dungarvan, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. The Department is finalising the timetable for commencement and funding draw-down with the director of the regional authority. Much preliminary work, including the necessary planning, environmental, design and preparatory work, has already begun in Kilkenny, Waterford and Dungarvan.