Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 588: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the Ballina sewerage scheme will proceed in view of the development and building standstill in the town due to the lack of this scheme; his views on whether Mayo County Council has been waiting a long time for the polluter pays report; when this report will be completed; when Mayo County Council will commence works in Ballina; when this scheme will be completed; the reason this scheme has taken so long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30550/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Ballina main drainage scheme is approved for construction in my Department's water services investment programme, 2004 to 2006. In July 2005, I cleared Mayo County Council's tender recommendations for upgrading of the treatment plant and the expansion and improvement of the sewage collection system. It is now a matter for the council to make arrangements with the successful tenderers for the commencement of the works.

In common with all projects in the water services investment programme, this scheme is subject to water services pricing, polluter pays, policy. In broad terms, the policy provides for the capital costs associated with the provision of services to meet the requirements of the existing domestic population being funded by my Department, with an allowance for organic growth within the existing network. The additional marginal capital cost of servicing non-domestic consumers and providing for future development, is recovered by the local authority from all non-domestic consumers in its functional area, that is, on a county-wide basis, through a combination of water charges on commercial consumers and planning levies on future development.

Additional information requested by my Department from Mayo County Council with regard to the council's water services pricing policy report for the scheme was received last week. This information is being examined in my Department and a response will issue to the council as quickly as possible.

In the normal way a local authority should secure departmental approval to the water services pricing policy report in the initial stages of a scheme in order that the respective liabilities of the authority and the Department are clarified as early as possible in the procurement process. My Department has approved Mayo County Council's tender recommendation in advance of the finalisation of the water services pricing policy report in this case in order to facilitate early commencement of the works.