116 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for the Environment the current position in respect of an application made in 1992 by Mayo County Council for a sewerage scheme for Irishtown, County Mayo; and when the council will receive a response to its application. [9844/96]

117 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for the Environment the current position in respect of an application made in 1992 by Mayo County Council for a sewerage scheme for Kilmovee, County Mayo; and when the council will receive a response to its application. [9845/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. Briefs for the preparation of preliminary reports for the Irishtown and Kimovee sewerage schemes were received in my Department in November 1992 and February 1995, respectively. Having regard to the high level of commitments under the water and sewerage programme, it is not possible to state when the schemes will be advanced.

118 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for the Environment the current position in respect of an application made in 1992 by Mayo County Council for a sewerage scheme for Bohola, County Mayo; and when the council will receive a response to its application. [9846/96]

A preliminary report for the Bohola sewerage scheme was received in my Department in April 1994. Having regard to the high level of commitments under the water and sewerage programme, it is not possible to state when the scheme will be advanced.

119 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment the survey, if any, his Department has carried out on a reed bed sewerage system for small sewerage works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9873/96]

In preparing the water and sewerage services capital works programme for 1996, my Department sought information from local authorities on their proposals for possible development of reed bed and other natural disposal methods. Subsequently, I announced the initiation of a `natural wetlands' subprogramme, and I approved individual schemes for Williamstown, County Galway, Boherbue and Cloyne in County Cork, and Ferns in County Wexford. In addition, a number of other schemes are being implemented by various local authorities.

All reed bed projects will be carefully monitored to assess their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Further proposals will be considered on their merits to establish whether they might provide the optimum solution, environmentally and economically, when compared with other conventional engineering systems.