John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Athenry Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. My Department awaits the submission of a revised Design Review Report for the scheme from Galway County Council. I understand that this revised report will take account of some interim improvement works being carried out by the Council at the existing Athenry wastewater treatment plant to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to cater for current loadings and to prevent pollution.

Local authorities were asked in July to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my Department by the end of next week. 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.