Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the provision of a sewerage treatment system for Clifden, County Galway. [11181/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Clifden Sewerage Scheme was included for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. Under the scheme, Galway County Council proposes to upgrade the collection network and build a new wastewater treatment plant. My Department is currently examining the Council's contract documents to procure the new wastewater treatment plant by means of a Design Build Operate (DBO) contract and the collection networks element of the Scheme. A decision on both sets of documents will be conveyed to the Council as soon as possible.

Further progress on the Clifden Sewerage Scheme awaits the finalisation of the Water Services Investment Programme for 2010 to 2012, taking account of the priority attached to the Scheme by Galway 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 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 required to take into consideration key environmental and economic criteria in prioritising contracts and schemes to be progressed in their areas. I expect to publish the new Programme shortly.