Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to meet the requirements of the various local authorities in respect of waste water management in 2009; the degree to which sewerage schemes proposed by the various local authorities on foot of the need to eliminate the threat of pollution will be funded in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25324/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has studied the need for drainage on a local regional basis arising from the need to upgrade facilities on a 50 year basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25331/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 166 together.

I also refer to the reply to Question No. 167 on today's Order Paper. Details of all major water and sewerage schemes included for funding by my Department are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Additional information in relation to progress on individual contracts under this Programme, or in relation to activity generally under the small public schemes measure of the devolved Rural Water Programme, may be obtained from the relevant local authority.

A provision of €500 million is available for the Programme for 2009, which is a 1% increase on the record outturn on the Programme for last year. I expect that the available resources will allow up to 50 major new water and wastewater schemes to commence this year, some of which have already started. My Department will prioritise the remaining schemes yet to start, having regard to both environmental and economic objectives i.e. schemes required to meet National and EU environmental standards in relation to drinking water and wastewater disposal, European Court of Justice cases and works that will support economic development.

My Department is also initiating a comprehensive review of the Water Services Investment Programme and will be working with local authorities over the coming months to identify the priority projects to form the basis of the next phase of the Programme. The completion of the River Basin Management Planning process will also provide a key input into this process.