Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the consideration given by his Department to increase grants for group scheme waste water treatment plants or installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27039/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Last June, I approved tender recommendations for the provision of new waste water collection and treatment systems at seven locations in County Tipperary selected by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, as a pilot programme, to test a range of new, small-scale waste water collection and treatment systems under Irish conditions. The programme will also test a low cost and low maintenance system to collect, treat and dispose of effluent from existing septic tanks. The objective of the pilot programme is to evaluate new approaches to meeting the waste water collection and treatment needs of rural villages and to examine the potential role for group sewerage schemes in extending the collection systems to households outside the catchment of the new or existing sewerage schemes. The outcome of the pilot programme will inform any review of the level of group sewerage scheme grants.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of the provision of the new waste water treatment installation for Castledermot, County Kildare, phase one and phase two and the archeological check and the new installation; the capacity of the new plant and the completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27040/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the results of the archeological investigation in relation to the new Castledermot, County Kildare waste water treatment installation; his views on whether it was significant in relation to the history of the historical town or if there have been any finds of significance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27041/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.

The Castledermot sewerage scheme was approved for construction under the 2004-06 water services investment programme of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, at an estimated cost of is €7.4 million. The first phase of the scheme, the construction of a waste water treatment plant to serve a population equivalent of 2,400, has been completed at a cost €3.8 million. I approved Kildare County Council's recommendation for the acceptance of a tender of €1.3 million for the sewers and pumping stations in April 2005. I understand that the works are in progress with a view to substantial completion by the end of November 2005. The cost of the archaeological survey was €1.4 million and the findings may appropriately be sought from the local authority.