22 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment if he will provide specific funding to county councils for the provision of sewerage schemes for small towns and villages. [12326/96]

This year, my Department is providing £121.8 million for water and sewerage services, an increase in real terms of 10 per cent over the 1995 outturn. This represents one of the largest investments in these services ever undertaken. While a significant part of the programme is directed at the larger urban centres where the needs of industry, tourism and the domestic sectors are most acute, it also contributes substantially to the provision of services in small towns and villages. Of the 50 new schemes scheduled to commence construction under the main water and sewerage programme in 1996, some 15 of them with an overall value of over £28 million will provide new and upgraded sewerage facilities at various small towns and villages around the country.