Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding allocated to a scheme (details supplied) in County Mayo; the part of the scheme which will be progressed based on that funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35417/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of the tender recommendation in respect of a proposed wastewater treatment plant (details supplied) in County Mayo; the percentage of the total cost allocated to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35418/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together.

The Kiltimagh Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. My Department has approved a budget of €9.197 million for the scheme. I gave Mayo County Council approval in June 2009 to place the contract for the Design/Build element of the Wastewater Treatment Plant with its recommended contractor at a cost of €2.677 million. Further progress on this element is a matter for the County Council. My Department expects to finalise its examination of the Council's Water Services Pricing Policy Report, which will determine the percentage of costs to be covered by the Department, shortly.

Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my Department by 23 October 2009. These assessments will form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 Water Services Investment Programme, which it is anticipated will be published in early 2010. In conducting their assessments, local authorities have been asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression over the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria.

The Department is awaiting the finalisation of this process in order to determine the priority attached to the collection network component of this scheme, which is not yet approved to go to construction. My Department has received a request from Mayo County Council for approval to re-tender this contract as the successful tenderer under the previous procurement process withdrew before signature of the contract. This request will be considered on receipt of Mayo County Council's assessment of needs.