Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he made an allocation in 2005 towards the cost of upgrading a water and sewage scheme in County Cork (details supplied); if these funds were drawn down by the local authority and, if not, why not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43593/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Crookstown Water and Sewerage Scheme was included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009 under the Serviced Land Initiative measure. This initiative was discontinued in 2009 in light of developments in the economy at large, and in the housing market in particular. While all existing scheme approvals under the initiative, for which contracts had not been signed or letters of intent had not issued, were withdrawn, authorities were given the opportunity to make a case for the continuation of a scheme where it was necessary for the proper development of an area.

As a result of submissions made in this regard by Cork County Council, Crookstown Sewerage Scheme is included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 as two contracts to start with a combined estimated cost of €2.4 million, with €1 million in respect of the network and €1.4 million for a waste water treatment plant upgrade. A copy of the programme is available in the Oireachtas library. Further progression of this scheme is a matter for Cork County Council.

The Council has indicated to my Department that an upgrade of the Crookstown water supply scheme is not required. In this regard, Crookstown currently provides water for Cloughduv, and the Cloughduv water supply scheme, which is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, is scheduled to come on stream in March 2011. This will result in the supply in Crookstown being sufficient to serve the town of Crookstown and its environs.