Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 627: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the projects contained in the new national development plan that will be procured and commenced in 2007 in his Department; when they will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5795/07]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 628: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the large-scale infrastructure projects which will be completed during the lifetime of the new national development plan within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5806/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 627 and 628 together.

As the National Development Plan is a high-level strategic document setting out a broad investment framework and investment priorities together with indicative financial allocations for the next seven years, it does not contain a definitive list of all projects with commencement dates scheduled for delivery or progression during the years 2007-2013.

However, the major areas of expenditure by my Department under the NDP 2007-2013 are as follows. Over the course of the NDP, €21 billion will be invested, funding the provision of over 60,000 new housing units and a further 40,000 households will benefit from affordable housing supports. In addition, a further 40,000 households will benefit under contractual arrangements with landlords for existing properties transferring from the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Rent Supplement Scheme to the Rental Accommodation Scheme, from vacancies in existing housing stock and from improved conditions in existing housing. During 2007 work will continue on the Ballymun Regeneration project, involving the provision of some 2,300 social and affordable housing units to replace all existing flat blocks structures together with civic and social amenities.

It is envisaged around €4.7 billion will be invested in water services over the duration of the NDP. Major projects will include the Belmullet/Foxford Sewerage Scheme in County Mayo, the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Scheme and the Cork Strategic Water Study. Examples of projects to proceed in 2007 include Ashbourne/Ratoath Kilbride Sewerage Scheme, Shanganagh/Bray wastewater treatment plant, Boherboy, Co. Dublin reservoir and Mullingar wastewater treatment plant.

The NDP provides that €753 million will be invested in waste management. This will fund necessary rehabilitation of local authority landfills, and the further rollout of recycling centres.

The investment of €4.3 billion in non-national roads will be primarily aimed at improvement and maintenance of the non-national road network and on strategic non-national roads, with a particular focus on roads in the National Spatial Strategy Gateway areas. Examples of projects being commenced in 2007 include Waterford Airport Road, Mulroy Bay Bridge in Donegal, Midleton Northern Relief Road, Ballyboden Road to Grange Road in Dublin, Wicklow Town Relief Road and Port Access Road, the Moyross Access Road in Limerick and the Clonmore Link Road in Mullingar.

An investment of the order of €373 million will fund expenditure on major capital projects on heritage sites of national and international importance in State ownership and will also fund amongst other things the ongoing National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH).