Seanad debates

Wednesday, 4 February 2009

7:00 am

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank my colleague for the opportunity to speak first as I have another commitment. This issue concerns an outstanding scheme in Courtmacsherry and Timoleague in west Cork which has been committed to for many years. We were told money was ring-fenced for it. When is it likely to begin and is that money ring-fenced? When will we have progress of this scheme? At local authority level, it is said the matter is held up in the Department. The buck is being passed. I hope the Minister of State has positive news.

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator O'Donovan on behalf the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the opportunity to clarify the position in regard to the Courtmacsherry and Timoleague sewerage scheme. The scheme is included for funding in the Department's water services investment programme 2007-09. It is one of more than 20 water and sewerage projects, with an investment value of some €122 million, earmarked in the programme for Cork County Council's western division.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is aware that it is necessary to improve and expand the waste water infrastructure in these two villages. The Minister is also conscious of the importance of the new scheme to the tourism industry in both locations, especially in Courtmacsherry, which has seen significant tourism, residential and other commercial development in recent years.

The Department is currently assessing Cork County Council's preliminary report, which sets out the design parameters and objectives of the scheme. The works proposed involve upgrading and extending the waste water collection networks in both villages, along with new pumping stations and rising mains to connect the collection systems to a new waste water treatment plant to be built to the west of Courtmacsherry.

In addition to the technical aspects of the preliminary report, the Department is examining Cork County Council's latest €6.33 million cost estimate for the scheme, which has been received only in the past week. A key component of this costing is the significant additional capacity proposed for new commercial development. Under water pricing policy, otherwise known as the polluter pays policy, the related costs would not be funded by the Department and would fall to be met by the Council from its own resources. In addition, the Council is proposing to install tertiary treatment, which is higher than the standard required for effluent discharges to Courtmacsherry Bay to achieve compliance with the urban waste water treatment directive.

The Department's role under the water services investment programme is to ensure that capital expenditure on new infrastructure represents good value for money and achieves compliance with relevant statutory, public health and environmental standards. In accordance with water pricing policy, the Department generally meets the full capital cost of services for the existing domestic population, with an allowance for organic growth, plus up to 40% of the cost of servicing planned residential development. The marginal additional cost of serving current and future non-domestic activity, such as shops, offices, hotels, restaurants and so on, must be funded locally through a combination of commercial water charges and development levies. It is a matter for the local authority to adopt a scheme design that maintains the local share of the overall cost at an affordable level.

The Department is well advanced with its assessment of Cork County Council's current proposals for the Courtmacsherry-Timoleague scheme. The Department is giving careful consideration to all aspects of the project, including overall costs, to determine an equitable apportionment of those costs between the council and the Department. The Minister expects to be in a position to notify Cork County Council of the outcome of this process in the near future.