Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list each project in the water service investment programme that had been given approval to go to tender; the date this happened in respect of projects that have not yet commenced construction; the estimated month for commencing construction in each of these projects; the estimated cost of the construction projects and if each project is a water or a waste water project;if each project is under the traditional procurement method, under the design, build, operate and finance or under the design and build process or under the design, build and operate process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15450/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 , which is available in the Oireachtas Library, lists the water services schemes and contracts to be progressed under the programme. The timing of the commencement of contracts within that period is a matter for the Water Services Authorities, subject to the requirement for my Department’s approval at key stages in the progression of projects through planning and on to construction. Details on the progression of individual contracts can be obtained from the local authorities concerned.

Where a scheme has a procurement/construction stage budget of less than €5 million, following approval of the Preliminary Report by my Department, contracts within the scheme may proceed up to and including the seeking of tenders without the need for further Departmental approval, subject to the cost remaining within approved budgets. In these cases approval takes the form of confirmation that funds are in place. For schemes/contracts in excess of €5m, approval to go to tender is also required.

The length of time to progress a scheme from initial design to completion varies with the scale and complexity of the scheme and the number of contracts involved. My Department’s procedures are designed to ensure that projects are advanced as expeditiously as possible, and in a manner consistent with meeting its responsibilities in relation to management of Exchequer funds.

A list of contracts under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 for which my Department has issued an approval to go to tender , including the procurement approach, is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible .