Seanad debates
Wednesday, 19 February 2003
Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
10:30 am
Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this issue and the Minister of State for coming to the House. I raise the matter of the Milltown sewerage scheme in north Galway. Milltown has the honour of being the tidiest village in County Galway in recent years. Funding has been allocated for water schemes in the village and surrounding areas. However, there will be a threat of pollution if a sewerage scheme is not provided. Fisheries have expressed concern because they have spent money on the river.
It is very frustrating for the community of Milltown that the growth of the village has been stopped by the lack of a sewerage scheme which is costed at €1 million. Other villages have considered low cost schemes and systems. I ask the Department of the Environment and Local Government to approve a suitable system. Infrastructure is very important for villages and towns, particularly in the case of Milltown. The village has a restaurant, five public houses, a community centre and a football pitch. It is, therefore, very important that a sewerage scheme is provided.
I have raised this issue on many occasions with Galway County Council and was told last October that the council's consulting engineers were preparing documentation requested by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. While the October deadline for the completion of the documentation by the engineers was not met, I understand the documentation has now been completed. It is very important that the Department approves the sewerage scheme in order that it can progress to the next stage. I ask the Minister of State to impress on her colleague the importance of the scheme.
Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am answering on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and thank the Senator for raising the matter.
The provision of modern environmental infrastructure to support social and economic objectives is and continues to be a major focus of Government spending. The unprecedented increase in investment by the Department of the Environment and Local Government in water and sewerage schemes under the current and previous national development plans has made a key contribution to economic growth that benefited every part of Ireland. Total investment in water and sewerage facilities over the period of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 will amount to almost €4.4 billion, of which over €3.8 billion is earmarked for major public schemes. This investment is aimed at supporting economic and social development, employment generation and the achievement of high environmental standards.
The total allocated for Galway city and county under the current phase of the programme comes to almost €350 million in respect of some 46 schemes. The approved schemes include major sewerage projects for Galway city, soon to be completed, and for Clifden, Headford, Barna, Athenry, Tuam, Ballinasloe, and Kilronan. There are also major water supply schemes for Galway city, Carna-Kilkieran, Tuam regional water supply scheme, phase two, as well as regional water supply schemes for Clifden, Costelloe, Loughrea and Ballinasloe. These are the biggest of the schemes, but many more towns and villages in the county, including Milltown, are also covered and will benefit from the major push to bring our water and sewerage infrastructure up to modern standards. Funding has also been provided under the serviced land initiative to bring additional serviced residential sites on stream as rapidly as possible to meet housing needs at a number of key locations around Galway city and county.
With regard to the Milltown sewerage scheme, I am pleased to say that it has been approved to advance through planning in the current water services investment programme. The estimated cost of the scheme is some €2 million and I understand that Galway County Council is now finalising an updated preliminary report which it hopes to be in a position to submit to the Department of the Environment and Local Government for approval in the near future. When the preliminary report has been cleared, it will be open to the council to proceed with the preparation of contract documents.
I assure the Senator that the Minister is listening carefully to what he is saying this evening and that the Department will give prompt attention to the updated preliminary report once it is received. The Minister is keen to see schemes like this advance quickly so that the benefits that will follow for local communities are brought on stream in the shortest possible timeframe.