Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. As he is aware and has acknowledged, the provision of modern environmental infrastructure to support social and economic objectives has been and continues to be a major focus of Government spending. The unprecedented increase in investment by my Department on water and sewerage schemes under the current and previous national development plans has made a key contribution to economic growth which has benefited every part of Ireland.

Total investment in water and sewerage facilities over the period of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 will amount to almost €4.4 billion, of which more than €3.8 billion is earmarked for major public schemes. This investment is aimed at supporting economic and social development, employment generation and the achievement of high environmental standards.

In April 2002 the second phase of the water services investment programme under the current NDP was announced. This phase covers the years 2002-04 and is a continuation of a rolling strategy that will be progressively advanced up to the end of the NDP in 2006. The total allocated for Galway city and county under the current phase of the programme amounts to nearly €350 million in respect of some 46 schemes. The approved schemes include major sewerage projects for Galway city, soon to be completed, Clifden, Headford, Barna, Athenry, Ballinasloe and Kilronan as well as stage two of the Tuam main drainage scheme.