Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the names of the trustees in respect of a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Laois. [21850/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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These schemes were grant aided by my Department prior to the devolution of responsibility for the Rural Water Programme to local authorities in 1997. The relevant files are being retrieved from storage and the information requested will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress of sewerage schemes (details supplied) in County Mayo. [21993/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Kiltimagh Sewerage Scheme and the combined Belmullet and Foxford Sewerage Scheme are included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as schemes to start construction in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

My Department approved Mayo County Council's Contract Documents for the treatment plant and collection system for Kiltimagh in January and May 2007, respectively. The Council's Preliminary Reports for the Belmullet and Foxford scheme were approved in February 2007. The Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare Tender Documents for the wastewater treatment plants for Belmullet and Foxford is being examined in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible. Contract Documents for the collection networks are awaited from the Council.

In October 2006, the Department of Finance, which is responsible for public procurement rules, issued instructions requiring all traditional public works projects to use new forms of construction contracts from February 2007 onwards. The new forms of contract were introduced to achieve greater cost certainty, better value for money and more timely and efficient delivery of publicly funded projects. However, at that time contracting authorities were given the option of either switching over to the new forms of contract or completing any contract documents on which detailed drafting was already underway.

This interim arrangement has recently been brought to a conclusion by the Department of Finance. All public works contracts must now be awarded using the new forms of contract. Mayo County Council has been informed accordingly.

The wastewater treatment plants in these cases are being procured under Public Private Partnership arrangements and are not affected by the requirement to use the new forms of contract.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress on water schemes (details supplied) in County Mayo. [21994/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I assume the question refers to the Ballina Regional Water Supply (Storage/Mains) Scheme and to the extension of the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme to Kiltimagh. Both schemes are scheduled to begin construction under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009.

I approved Mayo County Council's Contract Documents for the Ballina scheme in November 2007, subject to agreement between my Department and the Council on the non-domestic contribution. The Council has submitted a Design Review Report and Contract Documents to my Department in respect of the Kiltimagh Scheme.

In October 2006, the Department of Finance, which is responsible for public procurement rules, issued instructions requiring all traditional public works projects to use new forms of construction contracts from February 2007 onwards. The new forms of contract were introduced to achieve greater cost certainty, better value for money and more timely and efficient delivery of publicly funded projects. However, at that time contracting authorities were given the option of either switching over to the new forms of contract or completing any contract documents on which detailed drafting was already underway.

This interim arrangement has recently been brought to a conclusion by the Department of Finance. All public works contracts must now be awarded using the new forms of contract. Mayo County Council has been informed accordingly.