Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 523: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason his Department refused an application for funding to replace a section of water mains in Toberona, Dundalk, County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this section of gravity flow water mains has been leaking for at least six months and that traffic is driving across this exposed pipe, adding to the loss of treated water. [36662/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of a national campaign to improve operational efficiency and to reduce leakage from public water supply systems, capital funding of €4 million for water conservation measures has been allocated to Louth County Council under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-07.

Under the national water conservation programme, local authorities are first required to establish water management systems, including data collection, district metering and telemetry facilities, followed by active leakage control measures to identify and repair leaks. The objective of this investigative phase is to identify the overall condition of distribution networks and to allow local authorities to formulate strategic and prioritised proposals for infrastructural rehabilitation and renewal with the aid of funding from my Department.

I understand that comprehensive rehabilitation and renewal proposals will be submitted to my Department for approval by Louth County Council in the new year following completion of the investigative phase of the Council's water conservation programme. The Council's previous application for funding in relation to the Toberona water mains was not approved, pending completion of the overall assessment of priorities and in light of the Council's responsibility for day to day management of public water supply infrastructure. Any proposals relating to Toberona that may be included in the submission expected from the Council in the new year will be dealt with as quickly as possible by my Department.