Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is expected to allocate the necessary funding to Kildare County Council to enable the Ballyna group water scheme to proceed in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36571/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Ballyna Regional Water Supply Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009, at an estimated cost of €11.5 million. My Department awaits the submission of Kildare County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare a Preliminary Report for the scheme.

Local authorities were asked in July 2009 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. The Department is awaiting the finalisation of this process in order to determine the priority to be attached to schemes, including Kildare County Council's proposals for the Ballyna scheme.