Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the extension to the waste water treatment plant in Gorey, County Wexford will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28234/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Gorey Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 as a scheme to begin construction next year, at an estimated cost of €14m. My Department is awaiting the submission of contract documents for the scheme by Wexford County Council.

Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the extension to the waste water treatment plant in Coolgreany, County Wexford will be agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28235/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Coolgreany Sewerage scheme has been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 as part of the Serviced Land Initiative. My Department has approved Wexford County Council's contract documents for the scheme and it is now a matter for the Council to arrange for the works to be carried out.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the grounds and the means by which he would consider granting permission to Dublin City Council to extract water from Shannon/Lough Ree to serve the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28275/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Dublin Water (Long Term Sources) Development Study was undertaken by Dublin City Council as a forward planning measure to identify future water supply requirements for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and potential solutions to those requirements. The Study, which was funded under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme, estimates that the GDA will require an extra 300 million litres of water per day by 2031 and identifies the Shannon as one possible source in that context.

Dublin City Council initiated a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in relation the Study findings in 2006. The City Council is currently considering the submissions received as part of the SEA process. However, any statutory approval in relation to this proposal would be a matter for planning authority and/or An Bord Pleanala determination. Under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanala is or may be concerned. Accordingly, I have no function in relation to the statutory approval process relating to a proposal such as this.