Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether that an independent inquiry should be conducted into the issues which have arisen at the Ringsend sewage treatment plant, following the assertion that it will take at least another 18 months to solve the odour problems at the plant. [16471/06]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the continuing failure of Dublin City Council and the contractors responsible for the Ringsend sewage treatment plant to solve the long running odour problems associated with the treatment plant; and his views on whether or not the experience at Ringsend will affect future decisions regarding the use of private public partnerships in the provision of public facilities and services, particularly for sewage treatment and drinking water treatment. [16470/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 91 together.

During 2005 Dublin City Council engaged independent consultants to undertake an extensive technical examination of the processes at the Ringsend Waste Water Treatment Plant and to identify all possible sources of odours. Following this examination a programme of works is to be carried out by the contractor operating the plant on behalf of the City Council. I understand that the first phase of the works, which will eliminate the potential for odour releases from the Thermal Hydrolysis Plant, is currently in progress and is due for completion in June 2006. Other works, including covering of settlement tanks and inlet and outlet channels, that will eliminate the remaining potential odour sources are also underway and will be fully complete by Summer 2007.

The Ringsend plant was procured by Dublin City Council under a Design-Build-Operate contract and as a Public Private Partnership. Notwithstanding present difficulties, my Department is satisfied that this method of procurement offers worthwhile advantages over traditional approaches in terms of, inter alia, technical innovation, accelerated delivery of infrastructure and greater cost certainty.

I am of course concerned about the adverse consequences of the odour issues at the Ringsend plant for local residents and I am assured by the City Council that every effort is being made to implement the remedial works that will resolve the problem with the minimum of delay. Any assistance my Department can give the Council in that regard will be provided.

The priority at this stage is to put in place effective remedies to the odour issues arising at the Ringsend Treatment Plant. I do not see a need for any additional inquiries or examinations to those already undertaken by the City Council.