Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has issued instructions to the various local authorities, the results of which is review of contracts already entered into in respect of water, sewerage or housing schemes being deferred; the degree to which this is likely to delay investment in infrastructure; the extent, if known, to which this is likely to postpone remedial or upgrading works necessary to prevent the issue of pollution of ground water, rivers, streams and lakes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31313/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Provision is made in my Department's Vote for 2010 for capital expenditure by local authorities and others of some €1.509 billion this year, including €880 million in respect of housing and €508 million for water services. Work is proceeding on the planning, construction and financing of investment projects across these programmes so as to secure maximum benefit from the resources employed.

In terms of the Social Housing Investment Programme, while the allocations for 2010 show a reduction in provision for the traditional local authority programme, I anticipate that, through more flexible market-based delivery mechanisms (such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and long term leasing), as well as the funding available under the Capital Assistance Scheme in 2010 and the availability, from the second half of this year, of a direct lending facility from the Housing Finance Agency to approved housing bodies, delivery across the range of social housing measures this year will allow the momentum built up over recent years to be maintained.

My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2012, which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure. The timing of the commencement of projects within the 2010 - 2012 period is a matter for the local authorities and I would encourage them to expedite the progression of contracts. In developing the Programme, a review was undertaken of all schemes listed in the previous programme on which there had been limited progress over the previous two years to ensure that those proceeding under the new Programme are aligned with the prioritised economic and environmental objectives set out for 2010 - 2012. Schemes that did not rate sufficiently for inclusion in the 2010 - 2012 Programme were those that did not feature as highly as others on public health, environmental compliance or economic grounds.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the precise date at which capital requirement in respect of the Balyna group water scheme in County Kildare was made known to his Department; if he has issued criteria to exclude or delay the scheme; if he will set out the reason that this scheme was not included in this year's programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31314/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 210 of the 27 May 2010 which outlined the position in this matter.