62 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment if he or his officials had discussions with local authorities and group water scheme committees in advance of his announcement of the £5 million special allocation and the £10 million block grant to local authorities. [2706/97]

The devolution of responsibility for group schemes to local authorities follows from my Department's operational strategy, published in March 1996, and it was recommended by the devolution commission. This policy was extended to small public water and sewerage schemes in Better Local Government—A Programme for Change, published last month. The recently announced package of measures will give practical effect to the policy.

Under existing arrangements, local authorities are involved in the planning and design of all proposals for group schemes and my Department's staff are in constant contact with group scheme committees. There were no specific discussions with local authorities or group scheme committees in advance of the recent announcement. However, local authority managers are being consulted in working out detailed arrangements for the implementation of the measures. Submissions being received from group scheme committees will also be taken into account in this context.

64 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment when funding will be made available for stage four of the Ballincollig sewerage scheme, County Cork. [2723/97]

A brief for this scheme has been submitted to my Department but, given the high level of commitments under the water and sewerage programme, I cannot say when it may be possible to approve it.