Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the costs to date of the recent abstraction of water from Lough Ennell, County Westmeath, for the purposes of upgrading the Royal Canal, with particular reference to consultancy fees; his views in respect of the value for money delivered by this project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14322/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, includes the two contracts to advance to construction to improve the Mullingar Regional Water Supply Scheme. One of these is the Lough Ennell abstraction.

One of the fundamental considerations of any capital expenditure is that it must deliver value for money. The procurement option chosen for any scheme under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012 is based on an assessment of the best value for money from a whole life perspective. Westmeath County Council are currently undertaking an Environmental Impact Study in relation to abstraction of water from Lough Ennell. The Department's assessment of the project appraisal will not take place until after this study is completed and a report has been submitted.

The costs recouped by the Department to date in relation to this project, which amount to €311,000, have been in relation to planning only.