527 Deputy Christy O’Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received requests for funding from Cork County Council in relation to the Bandon sewerage scheme; if funding will be provided for the scheme from other non local government sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30014/10]

Full details of the schemes and contracts that are currently under construction, expected to commence construction in the period 2010-2012 or to be further progressed through planning in the period 2010-2012 in County Cork are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Contracts for both a treatment plant upgrade and networks for the Bandon Sewerage Scheme are included in the Programme at an estimated total cost of €13 million. My Department is currently examining the Contract Documents for the scheme submitted by Cork County Council. Once the Contract Documents are approved, the Council can begin the process of preparing tender documents and in due course advertising for tenders for the work.

The Government's water pricing policy in relation to the provision of water services infrastructure provides that the Exchequer funding is only available for the provision of services to the domestic sector while local authorities are required to recover the cost of providing water services infrastructure from the non-domestic sector. Accordingly, the cost of the Bandon Sewerage Scheme will be met in part by my Department and in part by Cork County Council. Generally, the costs arising for the authority are financed from borrowing which is recouped from charges on the non-domestic sector, development levies or once-off capital contributions (where capacity is reserved for or assigned to particular industries). In the light of this, it will be a matter for the Council to consider how the Council's contribution towards the cost of the scheme will be met.