John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the chronology of correspondence with Waterford County Council for a project (details supplied) under the rural towns and villages initiative; the position in relation to this project and the expected start and completion dates; his plans to streamline the procedure to ensure that communities do not have to wait an excessive number of years for such schemes; the details of the projected cost at the time of the original proposal; and the expected cost of completion. [11942/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Waterford grouped towns and villages sewerage scheme is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 as a scheme to commence construction this year at an estimated cost of €46 million. The estimated cost of the scheme when it was approved to commence planning in the water services investment programme 2002-2004, published in April 2002, was €43 million.

An updated preliminary report for the scheme was submitted to my Department by Waterford County Council in December 2003. The updated preliminary report was approved in April 2004 when the council was asked to review certain aspects of the scope and design of the scheme. The review report submitted by the council in December 2004 is being examined in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible. The council is proceeding with the planning and design of the other elements of the scheme.

When my Department has approved the planning and design of the scheme as a whole, the council will be in a position to prepare tender documents. The anticipated construction timescale is three years overall with services for the first locations becoming available approximately 18 months after work starts.

The procedures for the advancement of projects approved for funding under my Department's water services investment programme are intended to optimise progress through the planning, tender and construction phases, taking necessary account of mandatory procurement and other legislative requirements and the policy of delegating maximum responsibility to local authorities who are responsible for the provision of the infrastructure.

An informal working group, comprising officials of the Department and the City and County Managers Association, is at present engaged in a detailed review of the current procedures with a view to identifying measures to streamline the process further having regard to the financial and statutory responsibilities of the parties involved. I expect the group to report before the summer.