Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of fully automated water treatment plants here; the number of water treatment plants that it is proposed to fully automate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21011/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The information requested is not available in my Department. As management of water treatment plants falls to water services authorities and the Group Water Sector, as appropriate, the information requested can be sought locally.

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when, in view of the fact that contract documents for the collection networks and the design build operate contract documents for the waste water treatment plant for Claregalway, County Galway were submitted to his Department and in view of the fact that Claregalway has been identified as a likely source of the cryptosporidium problem in Galway, he will approve the contract documents as approval for funding has been allocated under the serviced land initiative; and the timescale and commencement date for the scheme. [21014/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Claregalway Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009 with one element included for funding under the Serviced Land Initiative component of the Programme.

Galway County Council's contract documents for the scheme are being examined in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible.

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 all existing approvals under the initiative, for which contracts have not been signed or letters of intent have issued, were being withdrawn.

I understand that, in this case, no letter of intent has issued and that a contract has not been signed. However, authorities were also informed that where a water services authority is of the opinion that the continuation of an approved scheme for which contracts have not been signed is necessary for the proper development of the area, it is open to the authority to make a case to my Department, by the 29 May 2009, for the scheme to progress. My Department will consider any case, which Galway County Council may make in respect of this scheme within the specified time limit, as quickly as possible.