Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reasons for the deferral of a programme to replace and re-lay water mains pipes in an area (detail supplied) south County Dublin, due to the presence of granite, which are too near the surface to avoid the impact of severe ground frost; his views on whether repaired burst mains will most likely burst again, and that resources will have to be spent on new mains set at a deeper level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9381/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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There was no scheme in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 specifically relating to water pipe replacement works in the Dalkey/Killiney area and there are no proposals for such works in the Dalkey-Killiney area with my Department at present. However, some work of this nature was carried out in conjunction with the Dun Laoghaire sewerage scheme in recent years.

While the operation, maintenance and management of water supply in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown area is a matter for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the recent weather has pointed up the need to sustain our efforts in the provision of water services infrastructure and, in particular, the replacement and rehabilitation of older mains which were damaged during the cold spell. Dublin City Council, as the lead authority in the Dublin region, has to date carried out a suite of five contracts of watermain rehabilitation, mainly in the city area, as part of the Dublin Region Watermain Rehabilitation Project. The total approved cost of these contracts is almost €16 million. Contract documents for three further contracts, including works in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area, are under examination in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible.

A greater focus on such works will be a key priority of the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012. As part of the development of this programme, 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. My Department is currently finalising its consideration of 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 in the coming weeks.