Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to address the problems experienced in County Galway with cryptosporadium in the public water supply; the measures outstanding; when these measures will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9521/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The risk of cryptosporidium is one of the factors taken into consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in compiling the "Remedial Action List" which identifies public water supplies which required detailed profiling to ensure that the supply is providing clean and wholesome water. Some 14 water supply schemes in County Galway have been included on the Remedial Action List by the EPA on the basis that they are or were at risk from cryptosporidium. These were supplies at Ahascaragh, Ballygar, Ballymoe, Carraroe, Cleggan/Claddaghduff, Cornamona, Derryinver, Eyrecourt, Inisboffin, Leenane, Letterfrack, Rosmuc, Teeranea/Lettermore and Tully-Tullycross.

EPA guidance, issued in 2008, identified the actions to be taken by local authorities when a supply is included on the Remedial Action List. These actions could include abandoning or replacing sources, upgrading treatment facilities or improving operational and maintenance arrangements.

Where an upgrade of facilities was identified as the appropriate solution, local authorities can seek grant aid through a special package of measures which I introduced in 2007 in conjunction with the launch of the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. This package included a new contingency funding arrangement under the water services investment programme to deal with priority infrastructural upgrades for which funding has not already been approved and a similar contingency funding arrangement is in place under the small schemes measure of the rural water programme for schemes below the water services investment programme minimum cost threshold.

Galway County Council has sought funding under the water services investment programme for supplies at Ahascaragh and Innisboffin. My Department issued grant approval in December 2009 to Galway County Council to proceed with its proposals to accept tenders for works to resolve the water quality issues at Ahascaragh. The council's application for construction stage budgets for the remedial works contract to resolve the water quality issues at Innisboffin is currently being examined by my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the council as soon as possible.

The council has also sought funding of about €2.8 million from the special Remedial Action List Contingency Fund under the rural Water Programme, following a procurement process. This is an increase on the original allocation for Galway County Council made by my Department from this fund. Approval has already issued for the revised grant support involved in resolving water quality issues in relation to supplies at Ballygar, Ballymoe and Leenane. The application for revised grants for costs of resolving issues on supplies at Carraroe, Letterfrack, Rosmuc, Teeranea/Lettermore and Tully-Tullycross/Derryinver is currently under examination by my Department and a reply will issue to the council shortly.

Where approvals have already issued from the Department, it is now a matter for the council to award the contract in each case to allow those works to proceed. Further information on progress with those schemes may be had from the council. In addition, it is understood that the council shortly expects to sign the contract for the Galway Group Water Scheme DBO No. 2 Bundle, which is being funded under the rural water programme. This contract will, amongst other objectives, tackle the potential cryptosporidium risk associated with the Cornamona supply.

It is understood that no departmental funding is required in relation to the remaining two supplies at Cleggan/Claggaghduff and Eyrecourt.