Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank an Seanadóir Brian Ó Donmhnaill as ucht an ábhar seo a thabhairt ós comhair an Tí inniú. The Dungloe sewerage scheme and Glenties sewerage scheme are being advanced as a joint scheme under the Department's water services investment programme 2007 -2009. The proposed scheme involves construction of new waste water treatment plants and pumping stations. It is envisaged that procurement of the waste water treatment plants will be by the design-build-operate model, and the schemes are being bundled to obtain a more competitive tender. The contract documents are currently under examination in the Department.

The length of time it takes to advance a water or sewerage scheme to completion largely depends on the nature and complexity of the scheme and the statutory processes involved. The Department's involvement at individual stages of schemes in the water services investment programme can vary from two to four occasions depending on the value of the scheme. It approves the local authority's design brief and preliminary report for all schemes and, in some instances it also approves the contract documents. In the case of design/build/operate contracts the Department additionally approves the local authority's tender recommendation. This involvement at key stages is necessary to comply with the Department of Finance's capital appraisal guidelines and the Department's obligations relating to management and oversight of Exchequer expenditure. Local authorities have responsibility for all other aspects of a scheme, including the appointment of consultants, statutory planning and other processes, site investigations, the acquisition of lands and wayleaves, the tendering process, the appointment of contractors and the carrying out of works. The time taken to advance a scheme will depend largely on how quickly these processes are completed.

The priority to be accorded to schemes in Donegal county is a matter, in the first instance, for Donegal County Council. Last July local authorities were asked to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services in their areas to my Department by 23 October. The Department is considering these assessments which will form a key input to the development of the 2010-12 water services investment programme. In conducting their assessments local authorities were asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression in the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria.

The 2010-12 programme will be a three-year rolling plan for the provision of major water supply and wastewater infrastructure. Strategic environmental and economic objectives have provided the rationale for investment in water services infrastructure since 2000. With the changed economic climate and the completion of the first cycle of river basin management plans by local authorities in the near future, there is a greater need than ever to focus on these key priorities. The 2010-12 programme will do this by prioritising projects that target public health and environmental compliance issues, support economic and employment growth, and offer best value for money.

The Department expects to publish the 2010-12 water services investment programme early next year. It will work closely with Donegal County Council to advance priority schemes identified in the programme.