Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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574. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of contracts which were put out to tender by the local authorities in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for water services, that is for waste water treatment, water treatment, bore holes, pumping stations and so on; if he will provide a breakdown of these figures per each individual local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5564/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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 that were to be progressed under the programme. The timing of the commencement of contracts within that period was a matter for individual 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.

Where a scheme had a procurement/construction stage budget of less than €5 million, following approval of the Preliminary Report by my Department, contracts within the scheme could 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 took the form of confirmation that funds were in place. For schemes/contracts in excess of €5m, approval to go to tender was also required.

Details of contracts with a value in excess of €5 million for which approval to go to tender was given is outlined in the table below.

The progression of these tenders was a matter for the individual Local Authorities.