Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the statement of Galway County Council that of the twenty five water and sewerage schemes in County Galway scheduled to start in 2007 only a bundle of four schemes are expected to meet the programme start date of 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43372/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of any such statement. I assume that the Question relates to the schemes approved for funding and authorised to start in 2007 in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007, published in December 2005. Local authorities are responsible for the procurement of individual projects and the funding allocated in the Programme is available to Galway County Council for the construction of these schemes.

My Department is awaiting the submission of Preliminary Reports, Contract Documents or other necessary information by Galway County Council in relation to the majority of the schemes referred to. In the remaining cases the Department has such submissions under examination. Submissions from the Council which are with the Department are been dealt with as quickly as possible.

In order to accelerate progress under the Water Services Investment Programme generally, I have introduced a number of measures to streamline the approval procedures. I have reduced the number of stage approvals local authorities are required to obtain from my Department and also simplified Water Services Pricing Policy procedures and affordability criteria. I have also introduced a new Project Control System to assist local authorities to adopt a consistent "best practice" approach to managing the planning, procurement and construction stages of all water services projects.

I am anxious to see the Galway schemes completed as quickly as possible and my Department is giving every possible assistance to Galway County Council in that regard, including the provision of ongoing funding for two additional engineering posts in the Council's Water Services Section.