Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the progress of proposed sewerage schemes (details supplied); if these schemes are being carried out as one or if he can allow them to go ahead individually (details further supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30262/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Castleblayney Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 as a contract to start within the lifetime of the Programme. A Preliminary Report is required for the further advancement of the Castleblayney Sewerage Scheme and my Department is awaiting the submission of this report.

The scope and format of the Programme for 2010 to 2012, is designed to better 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. The total value of contracts underway and those proposed for commencement during the period of the programme in County Monaghan is just under €42 million.

A key input to the development of the Programme was the assessment of needs prepared by local authorities, including Monaghan County Council, in response to my Department's request to the authorities in 2009 to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. These were subsequently appraised in my Department in the context of the funds available and key criteria that complemented those used by the authorities. The upgrading of sewerage services in Clones and Ballybay was not proposed by Monaghan County Council in its Assessment of Needs submitted to my Department.