Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas den Seanadóir as ucht an cheist seo a thógáil. Mar a dúirt sí, tá eolas an-mhaith agam ar an gceantar. Tá mé pósta le bean as An Spidéal agus tá an-spéis agam in ábhar ar bith a bhaineann leis an áit. D'fhoilsigh an tAire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil clár cuimsitheach do sheiribhísí nua uisce le bheith déanta sa tréimhse ama faoin gclár infheistíochta do sheirbhísí uisce 2010-12.

With the changed economic climate and the finalisation of the first cycle of the river basin management plans, the new water services investment programme aims to prioritise projects that target environmental compliance issues. It also fully supports economic and employment growth as envisaged in the Government's policy document, Building Ireland's Smart Economy - A Framework for Sustainable Economic Revival. The scope and format of the programme for 2010 to 2012 is designed to reflect better ongoing environmental and economic priorities, to maximise the return on public funds being invested in the sector and to ensure the programme is realistic in its level of ambition. The total value of contracts under way and contracts proposed for commencement during the period of the programme in County Galway is approximately €130 million. The Spiddal sewerage scheme is included in the programme among the list of schemes in the county to advance through planning in this period.

The Minister is aware that Spiddal has a collection network but no wastewater treatment plant and that untreated sewage is currently discharged directly to Galway Bay, near designated bathing areas. Although I understand the bathing water quality results, as published annually by the Environmental Protection Agency, for the Spiddal area in recent years have met the minimum statutory requirements, as Senator Healy Eames stated the beaches there have lost their blue flag status.

Under the Spiddal sewerage scheme, Galway County Council proposes to upgrade the existing collection network and provide a new wastewater treatment plant to serve the village, at an estimated cost of €5 million. The new infrastructure will provide the appropriate level of treatment of discharges into the bay. The Minister understands that the council is reviewing the design of the proposed scheme with the view to submitting its revised design proposals to his Department during the summer. Once the Department has approved the revised proposals, the council can then prepare the contract documents on which it will eventually seek tenders for the scheme.

In general, the length of time taken for schemes included in the water services investment programme to advance the completion of construction largely depends on the nature and complexity of the scheme and the statutory processes involved. The Department is involved at key stages in the development of schemes to ensure compliance with obligations relating to management and oversight of Exchequer expenditure. Ultimately, responsibility for the detailed progression of schemes is a matter for the relevant local authority.

The Department will continue to work closely with Galway County Council to ensure the scheme and the other water services contracts and schemes included in the council's water services investment programme are advanced as far as practicable over the course of the next three years.

Tá dul chun cinn maith á dhéanamh faoi seo. Tá sé idir lámha ag an chomhairle contae agus tá súil agam go n-éireoidh léi é a chur ar aghaidh chuig an Roinn sa samhradh agus go mbeidh an Roinn in ann é a scrúdú go sciopthaí. Tiocfaidh sé ar ais go dtí an chomhairle contae ansin agus beidh cead aici ansin na doiciméid chonartha a réiteach. Nuair a bheidh siad réitithe, beidh ar an scéim dul chun tairiscne agus mar sin. Scéim thábhachtach í seo agus tá fíor-áthas orm bheith in ann cur in iúl don Seanadóir go bhfuil an scéim clúdaithe sa chlár 2010-12.