Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senators for raising this issue.

The provision of modern environmental infrastructure to support social and economic objectives has been a major focus of Government spending over the last number of years. I am glad to confirm that Kilmallock is set to gain a new sewerage scheme as part of the drive to upgrade our national infrastructure.

The unprecedented investment in new water and sewerage facilities under the national development plan has made a key contribution to economic growth and has benefited many parts of the country. Limerick is no exception. The Government has allocated €143 million for new schemes under the latest phase of my Department's water services investment programme. Last year saw the opening of the multi-million euro Limerick main drainage scheme, a project that has copper-fastened Limerick's ability to continue to attract inward investment, to provide jobs and to function as the major commercial centre in the mid-west.

My Department's water services investment programme includes funding for more than 20 locations throughout County Limerick, where planning of new infrastructure is movingahead rapidly. Towns and villages like Adare, Patrickswell, Athea, Askeaton, Foynes,Shanagolden and Glin can all look forward to new sewerage schemes. Many areas will also benefit from improved water supplies from the major upgrade planned for the Clareville water treatment plant, improvements to the Shannon estuary water supply scheme and extensions of the Limerick county trunk water mains.

Funding has also been set aside in the water services investment programme for the Kilmallock sewerage scheme. Costing more than €9 million, it has been assigned construction status in the programme and can go to tender immediately, once the necessary preliminaries have been completed. Limerick County Council's preliminary report for the scheme has already been approved by my Department. The brief the council subsequently produced for the appointment of consultants to draw up contract documents for the scheme is currently under examination in the Department and we are in ongoing consultation with the council about it.

I understand that the Department's examination will be concluded shortly. I will relay to my officials the concerns expressed by both Senators. When the brief is approved, the council will be in a position to proceed with the appointment of the consultants and preparation of the contract documents. How long the contract documents take is a matter for the council and its consultants, but given the complexities involved, it could take several months. Tender advertisements and award of contract will follow on that.

I am conscious of the strong case the Senators have made for getting this scheme started quickly. As far as my Department is concerned, we will do everything possible to avoid unnecessary delay and no doubt Limerick County Council will do likewise. The necessary funding has been allocated for the scheme in the water services investment programme and that money will be available for drawdown by the council as soon as the work can start on the ground. In the meantime, it is important for my Department and the council to push through the intervening stages as quickly as possible.

As Senators know, I have always been impatient of excessive bureaucracy and paper shifting. I am anxious to move the project along as quickly as possible.