Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 974: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's latest estimate of the cost of servicing individual dwellings in Feakle, Scarriff and Quilty, County Clare, in the context of the provision of sewerage schemes for those areas; the extent to which the original schemes have been scaled back to achieve a lower cost per household unit; if a pricing structure has been agreed with Clare County Council in respect of those schemes; when commencement of each of the three schemes is to go to tender and construction to begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14750/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 975: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's latest estimate of the cost of servicing individual dwellings in Labasheeda, Cooraclare and Carrigaholt, County Clare, in the context of the provision of sewerage schemes for those areas; the extent to which the original schemes have been scaled back to achieve a lower cost per household unit; if a pricing structure has been agreed with Clare County Council in respect of those schemes; when each of the three schemes is to go to tender and commence construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14751/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 976: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the price ceiling based on the cost of servicing individual dwellings in the context of his Department's policy of providing for the capital costs associated with the provision of sewerage services to meet the requirements of the domestic population; the allowance made for organic growth in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14752/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 977: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the pilot scheme that his Department is funding in north Tipperary to test new methods of dealing with waste water from smaller agglomerations, including the system of retaining existing septic tanks but transferring septic tank effluent by low-cost small-bore pipework for treatment at a central treatment plant, is applicable to such settlements in Clare as Feakle, Quilty, Scarriff, Labasheeda, Cooraclare and Carrigaholt; the average cost per house for such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14753/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 974 to 977, inclusive, together.

The Feakle, Scarriff and Quilty sewerage scheme, which includes Mullagh, and the Carrigaholt, Labasheeda and Cooraclare sewerage scheme are included in my Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007 as schemes to commence construction in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

My Department provides funding towards the domestic share of the capital cost of water services infrastructure that is needed for environmental, economic or public health reasons and that can be justified by reference to value for money considerations. Local authorities are responsible for designing and planning individual schemes and for ensuring that they meet the affordability criteria. In that context, the level of grant available to group water schemes, and the relative cost of proprietary single house waste water treatment systems, are regarded as a suitable guide to local authorities for assessing the cost effectiveness of proposals to serve existing dwellings, and organic growth in the residential sector, by way of new public water or waste water infrastructure.

Clare County Council is reviewing the schemes with a view to devising more cost-effective solutions for each location than those originally proposed. I understand that the council is confident that a suitable and financially viable result will be found. The council's revised proposals will be given the earliest possible consideration on receipt in my Department.

My Department has also suggested that Clare County Council's review might include an examination of North Tipperary County Council's pilot testing of septic tank effluent drainage systems, STEDS. Subject to a satisfactory outcome to the Tipperary pilot project, it would be open to other local authorities, in accordance with public procurement procedures, to invite tenders from competent contractors for the provision of STEDS-based systems at suitable locations. It would not be possible to indicate in advance what the tender cost might be in such cases, as circumstances will differ from location to location.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 978: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the contract documents for the Doolin, Ballyvaughan and Corofin sewerage scheme have been prepared; when the contract will go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Doolin, Ballyvaughan, and Corofin sewerage scheme is approved for construction in my Department's water services investment programme 2005-07. My Department is awaiting the submission by Clare County Council of the contract documents for the scheme. Approval of these documents will allow the council to invite tenders for the construction of the scheme.