Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will meet with a delegation (details supplied) from County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25014/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My colleague, Minister of State Finneran, met a deputation from the Kilreekill Group Water Scheme in March 2010 in relation to the provision of a water supply to the village from the Loughrea Regional Water Supply Scheme. Since then, I have published the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, which provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure to be undertaken in County Galway. The total value of contracts under way and those proposed for commencement during the period of the Programme in County Galway is some €130 million. The Loughrea Water Treatment Plant Scheme is included in the Programme amongst the list of schemes in the county to advance through planning in this period.

With the changed economic climate and the finalisation of the first cycle of River Basin Management Plans, the new Programme aims to prioritise projects that target environmental compliance issues. It also fully supports economic and employment growth as envisaged in the Government's policy document Building Ireland's Smart Economy – A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal. The scope and format of the Programme for 2010 to 2012 is designed better to reflect ongoing environmental and economic priorities, to maximise the return on public funds being invested in the sector and to ensure that the Programme is realistic in its level of ambition.

In developing the Programme, a review was undertaken of all contracts and schemes listed in the previous Programme on which there had been little progress over the past 2 years, to ensure that those proceeding were aligned with current priorities. In this context, while the proposals for upgrading Loughrea Water Treatment Plant were considered to reflect programme priorities, the planning of this infrastructure under previous programme cycles had not sufficiently advanced to allow for its inclusion as a contract to start construction in the Programme period. Upgrading the treatment plant is a prerequisite to providing a water supply to Kilreekill village.

In February 2010, my Department received Galway County Council's revised Preliminary Report setting out the latest design proposals for this Scheme. The Council has subsequently written to the Department with further information regarding proposals to connect Kilreekill to the Loughrea Water Supply Scheme. My Department is examining this report and correspondence and will convey a decision on it to the Council as soon as possible.

I have included an annual review process as one of a number of new measures in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, under which the Programme will be reviewed and updated annually to allow for any re-prioritisation required. The format and timing of the annual review process has still to be decided by my Department. However, when finalised, it will be a matter for Galway County Council to decide whether to submit the trunk main to Kilreekill element of the Loughrea Regional Water Supply Scheme to my Department for consideration for inclusion in the new Programme.

My Department will continue to work closely with Galway County Council to ensure that the Loughrea Scheme and the other water services contracts and schemes included in the Council's Water Services Investment Programme are advanced as far as practicable over the course of the next 3 years. The Kilreekill Group Water Scheme should maintain contact with Galway County Council regarding progress with the advancement of the Loughrea Scheme.