Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if EU funding was ever received to repair the water infrastructure here in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42197/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Water conservation projects have benefited from EU Structural and Cohesion Fund programmes in various formats, the most recent of which is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2007 – 2013 programme, which was administered via the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) and South & East (S&E) Regional Assemblies. Water conservation projects were selected in the BMW region for co-funding under (ERDF) 2007 – 2013 in accordance with the programme’s defined themes and priorities. The priority used in this instance was Focused Capital Works to enhance urban regeneration.

The overall objective of the Priority is to strengthen the spatial structuring of the BMW Region by investing in integrated sustainable initiatives. By improving the water services infrastructure in the towns selected, through network rehabilitation works, it increases the ability of those towns to better meet the current and prospective needs of business and enterprise in those centres. By focussing on the improvement of existing infrastructure rather than the provision of new infrastructure, environmental sustainability is enhanced.

All of the water conservation projects selected for co-funding were in towns that lie within the BMW Assembly Area. Network rehabilitation works planned at that stage in the gateways of Athlone, Mullingar, Sligo and Dundalk were considered to be the most appropriate to advance within the time frame proposed for the progression of projects. In selecting projects, an effort was made to provide a geographical spread across the BMW Region.

While the programme has now completed, funding for works underway may be included up to the end of 2015. Irish Water is prioritising the completion of these projects so that funds can be drawn down centrally within that timeframe.

Two Design/Build/Operate Group Water Scheme projects, which also include some small public schemes, in Galway and Roscommon, funded under my Department’s Rural Water Programme, have also benefited from funding under the 2007 – 2013 ERDF Programme.