Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 885: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if sufficient funds will be available to Monaghan County Council to provide or upgrade the sewerage facilities in all of the villages and hamlets that are being rezoned in the new County Development Plan for County Monaghan; his views on whether proper sewerage facilities will be necessary if these development plans are to be successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26396/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Details of water schemes in County Monaghan that have been approved for funding by my Department are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2005 -2007 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The schemes included in the Programme are derived mainly from regular assessments of needs undertaken by local authorities, at my Department's request, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting wastewater treatment and collection requirements. Local authorities have recently been requested to carry out fresh assessments of needs and to submit these to my Department by end July 2006. Any new priorities identified by these latest assessments will inform scheme selection under future phases of the Water Services Investment Programme.

My Department's draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans, which were issued for public consultation in April 2006, are explicit in enjoining regard for the existing and future availability of, or the capacity to provide, infrastructure. The draft guidelines emphasise that while services are not available, zoning for development should only be contemplated where there is a reasonable expectation of the services being provided in the development plan period. Land should not be zoned if there is no reliable prospect of providing key physical infrastructure, such as improved roads, footpaths, drainage and lighting to serve likely future development, within the plan development period or a reasonable time period thereafter.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 886: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress towards improved sewerage facilities in each of the towns of Castleblayney, Ballybay and Clones in County Monaghan; when such works will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26397/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Ballybay, Castleblaney and Clones Sewerage Schemes have been approved for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 and are being procured as a grouped project. It is envisaged that construction will commence in 2007.

My Department approved Monaghan County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare a Preliminary Report for the three schemes in February 2006. Following receipt and approval of the Preliminary Report in my Department, the Council will be in a position to draw up the Tender Documents for this project.