Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether Bunclody, County Wexford, has a sufficient water supply to meet its needs; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a fire in the town centre a number of years ago was worsened due to an insufficient water supply to the fire hydrants; his views on whether this situation has not improved since and that the improvement works on the Bunclody water supply scheme which were approved for grant aid by his Department in 2008 are needed urgently; if he will commit to providing the level of funding originally approved and within the originally agreed timescale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18560/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The operation and management of public water services infrastructure, including the supply of water for fire fighting purposes, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, in this case Wexford County Council.

While there are no proposals included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009 to upgrade the Bunclody water supply, I understand that the Council had been considering proposals for such a scheme under the Serviced Land Initiative. Last month, my Department, following a review of the Serviced Land Initiative in light of developments in the economy at large, and in the housing market in particular during 2008, and having regard to the oversupply of housing in some areas, informed all local authorities that the Initiative was being discontinued. All existing scheme approvals under the Initiative, for which contracts had not been signed or letters of intent had not issued, were withdrawn.

However, local authorities were also informed that where they are of the opinion that the continuation of a scheme is necessary for the proper development of an area, it is open to the relevant authority to make a case to the Department by 29 May 2009 for the scheme to progress. My Department will consider any case that Wexford County Council may make within the specified time limit in respect of this project.