Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Belmullet sewerage works in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7790/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The combined Belmullet/Foxford and Charlestown/Bellaghy Sewerage Schemes were included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009.

My Department has received Mayo County Council's contract documents for the collection network in Belmullet; however, those documents cannot be approved until the Council has completed the planning of the Scheme. The Council has also submitted a revised brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare the contract documents for wastewater treatment plants at Belmullet, Foxford and Charlestown/Bellaghy under a single Design Build Operate (DBO) contract. The contract documents for the collection networks at Foxford and Charlestown/Bellaghy are awaited.

Further progress on the combined schemes awaits the finalisation of the Water Services Investment Programme for 2010 to 2012, taking into account the priority attached to the schemes by Mayo County Council in its recent assessment of needs. In July 2009, local authorities were asked to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my Department by 23 October 2009. My Department is currently considering these assessments, which form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 Water Services Investment Programme. In conducting their assessments, local authorities were asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression over the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria. I expect to publish the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 early this year.