Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Ulick Burke for raising the issue. I shall give a brief overview of the major investment being made by the Department in improving water services infrastructure nationally, and in Galway, under the national development plan.

Last May, we published the water services investment programme covering the period 2004-06, made up of 869 schemes at different stages of development, with a total investment of €5 billion. Almost 150 new projects, worth over €550 million, have been added to the programme since the previous year. It is the most significant milestone yet in the push to bring our water services infrastructure up to a world standard.

The total allocated to Galway county and city under the latest phase of the water services programme comes to over €445 million, extending to some 60 individual schemes. Among these are major sewerage projects for Athenry, Ballinasloe and Clifden and water supply schemes for Carna-Kilkieran, Costelloe, Gort, Ballinasloe, Clifden, Dunmore-Glenamaddy and Portumna. Funding has also been provided under the serviced land initiative to bring additional residential sites on stream as rapidly as possible to meet housing needs at a number of locations around the county.

It is clear that a large number of towns and villages in Galway are directly benefiting from the drive to bring our water and sewerage infrastructure up to a modern standard.

With regard to the Loughrea regional water supply scheme, this scheme is also included in the Department's water services investment programme. It is intended to commence construction in 2006 at an estimated cost for the project of over €35 million. I approved Galway County Council's proposal to review and update the preliminary report for the scheme in April 2003 and I understand the provision of a water supply for Kilrickle is being considered as part of the review process. The Department is awaiting submission of the council's updated preliminary report.

I note what the Senator has said and his desire to have the Kilrickle water scheme prioritised. All I can say is that the Department will give the matter prompt attention when the preliminary report is received from the council. Obviously it would be desirable to do all the work at the same time. Once we receive the report we will give it prompt attention and try to have the two projects carried out at the same time.