Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for providing me with an opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to clarify the position on the development of proposals for and the procurement of further wastewater facilities for the town of Castlefin, County Donegal. Castlefin is a small town in east Donegal with a sewage discharge of between 1,000 and 1,200 population equivalent. The town's effluent receives primary treatment prior to its discharge to the River Finn. Donegal County Council wished to assess the appropriate level of treatment to be applied to the effluent prior to discharge and sought approval for a brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare preliminary reports on ten towns and villages, including Castlefin. As the schemes were included in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's water services investment programme 2007-09, it approved the council's proposal. The preliminary reports in question are being prepared.

Local authorities have responsibility for many aspects of a water and sewerage scheme, including the appointment of consultants, statutory planning and other processes, site investigations, the acquisition of lands and way-leaves, 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. It is difficult to say, therefore, when a scheme for Castlefin will be procured and constructed.

The priority to be accorded to schemes in County Donegal 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 the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by 23 October 2009. 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 to 2012 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 Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government expects to publish the 2010 to 2012 water services investment programme early this year and his Department will work closely with Donegal County Council to advance priority schemes identified in the programme.