Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 774: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will accelerate the programme for the provision of sewerage facilities serving all the towns throughout north Kildare, having particular regard to the requirements as identified by the local authorities and concerns regarding potential pollution of the waterways arising from lack of sewerage treatment capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17664/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 775: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he or his Department have had discussions with or received communications from Kildare County Council in the matter of the provision of a sewerage scheme to meet the requirements of the residents at Bawnogue, Straffan, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17666/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 776: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken or proposes to take to eliminate methane gas emissions from the sewage treatment system at Leixlip, County Kildare; the date by which he expects the issues to be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17667/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 774 to 776, inclusive, together.

Wastewater services for the major towns in North Kildare are being provided under the Upper and Lower Liffey Valley Sewerage Schemes which are approved for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007.

The Lower Liffey scheme provides for the expansion of the Leixlip wastewater treatment plant under one contract and for the upgrading and improvement of the wastewater collection systems in Celbridge, Kilcock, Leixlip, Maynooth and Straffan under other contracts. The works to the collection system in Leixlip include proposals to eliminate the odour problem in Main Street. The works in relation to Straffan were completed last year and my Department has no proposals from Kildare County Council for any further works in the Straffan area, including Bawnogue. In January 2007 my Department approved Kildare County Council's contract documents for the network upgrading in the other locations. My Department has also authorised the Council to prepare contract documents for the expansion of the Leixlip wastewater treatment plant.

In December 2006, my Department approved Kildare County Council's Preliminary Report for the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant at Osberstown under the Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme. It is now a matter for the Council to advance the production of contract documents for this element of the scheme. The Council's Preliminary Report for the collection networks in Clane, Johnstown, Kilcullen, Kill, Naas, Newbridge, Prosperous and Sallins, all of which are part of this scheme, is under examination in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.