Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in Fingal. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence in the county to the value of some €130 million during the period of the Programme.

While some network improvements in the Rush area of the Portrane/Donabate/Rush/Lusk Sewerage Scheme are included in the Programme amongst the list of contracts in the county to progress through planning in the period 2010 to 2012, it was not possible to include all elements of the network improvements proposed amongst the priority contracts and schemes selected for inclusion.

A key input to the development of the Programme was the assessment of needs prepared by local authorities, including Fingal 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. Inevitably, through this process, certain projects that had been proposed had to give way to others that are more strategically important at this time.

Fingal County Council has written to my Department seeking the inclusion in the Programme of the remainder of the network it proposes for the ultimate development of the Portrane/Donabate/Rush/Lusk area. The annual review of the Programme is due to commence shortly and any proposals received from local authorities that meet the criteria being developed for the review will be considered for inclusion the Programme, having regard to overall financial implications.