Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for coming before the House. The village of Milltown near Tuam in County Galway lies on the N17 close to the County Mayo border. As one of the tidiest towns in the county it has won many Tidy Towns awards.

It is a source of frustration and disappointment that construction of a sewerage scheme planned to commence in Milltown some years ago has been postponed until 2007. I have raised this issue in the House on previous occasions. The Milltown scheme has been incorporated in a new bundle of design, build and operate — DBO — schemes. Before Christmas, however, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, announced that he was considering the fast-tracking of smaller water and sewerage schemes costing less than €5 million. This would apply to the Milltown scheme on a stand-alone basis, as it is costed at €2.1 million, but when bundled together with Carraroe, Claregalway and Craughwell the total value of the DBO scheme exceeds the €5 million limit. For this reason, the community is asking whether it is preferable to seek to have the scheme constructed on a stand-alone basis under the Minister's new €5 million scheme or continue as part of a bundle under the design, build and operate programme.

Every sewerage scheme includes a treatment plant and collection system. I understand the treatment plants for the four villages in the Milltown bundle will be built by the same contractor, whereas I am informed it is possible that different contractors will construct the collection systems. Work on a collection system, that is, the pipe network through the village, pumping station and so forth, should commence immediately. I understand a site has not yet been selected for the treatment plant and responsibility for designating a site lies with Galway County Council. Work should start on a collection system and a site for the treatment plant should be identified. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, will be able to secure from her senior colleague the €2.1 million badly needed to carry out the works on the Milltown sewerage scheme.