Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in respect of his Department's plans for the provision of a quality and potable water supply nationally; if it is the position, that privatisation of the national water supply is taking place by stealth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8932/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Details of major water supply schemes to be advanced and funded in the coming years are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. In addition, a significant range of drinking water supply improvements are being implemented under the Rural Water Programme which is also funded by the Department. Responsibility for the operation of the Rural Water Programme has been devolved to county councils from whom information in relation to activity in their functional areas may be obtained.

I have no proposals to privatise public water supplies. Section 31(12) of the Water Services Act, 2007, explicitly prohibits the transfer of water services assets to the private sector.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in respect of a sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the contacts between his Department and Mayo County Council since September 2007 in relation to same. [9009/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Belmullet and Foxford Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 to start construction in 2009.

My Department approved Mayo County Council's Preliminary Reports for the scheme in February 2007. The Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare Tender Documents for the Waste water Treatment Plants was received in my Department in September 2007 and is being dealt with as quickly as possible. My Department has since been in contact with the Council in relation to the appointment of consultants for the sewerage collection networks and to budgetary and technical matters. A response received from the Council last week is being examined.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will approve the design, build and operate contract for a project(details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9013/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Creagh is part of the Roscommon Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme which is approved for construction under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009.

The waste water treatment plants for the locations served by the scheme are mainly being procured through design, build and operate contracts. Roscommon County Council's contract documents for a number of the plants, including Creagh, are being examined in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible.