Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, I thank the Senator for providing me with an opportunity to set out the position on the Loughrea regional water supply scheme which was included in the water services investment programme 2005 -07 as a scheme to advance to construction in 2009. The current position is that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government received Galway County Council's revised preliminary report on the scheme early last month. The council proposes to expand treatment capacity at the existing water treatment plant, provide two new reservoirs and extend the distribution network to serve Kilreekil village and its environs. The proposed scheme is intended to improve the water supply to existing consumers and also provide spare capacity to meet future needs. The Department is examining the revised preliminary report and will convey a decision on it to the council as soon as possible.

Further progress on the Loughrea regional water supply scheme must also await finalisation of the new water services investment programme. Last year local authorities, including Galway County Council, were asked to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services in their areas to the Department by 23 October 2009. The Department is finalising its consideration of 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 new programme will set out the water services contracts which are likely to proceed to construction in the next three years and also the schemes for which planning will continue during this period.

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 strategic environmental and economic objectives. The 2010-12 water services investment programme, as a three year rolling programme for the provision of major water supply and sewerage infrastructure, 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 expects to publish the 2010-12 investment programme shortly. His Department will work closely with Galway County Council to advance the priority schemes for the county identified in the new programme.