Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Thursday, 11 Jun 1998

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Ivor Callely

Question:

24 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, made to improve water supplies to meet the increasing demands; the progress, if any, made to eliminate leakage and improve conservation; the total supplies available in the reservoirs to serve the Dublin area; the identified supplies required; the schemes awaiting approval by his Department for the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13865/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

A major investment programme to upgrade and extend public and private water supplies is under way. Since the start of the National Development Plan in 1994, over £217 million has been expended on this programme. The 1998 water and sewerage services investment programme, which I announced at the start of February, and which provided for an overall increase in spending for 1998 of 13 per cent over 1997 and as much as 50 per cent over the 1996 figure, will allow for further substantial improvements in public and group water supplies. Outputs achieved under the investment programme are given in the annual report on the programme published by my Department.

Major studies have been carried out in recent years into the water supply requirements for the Dublin region, and Galway and Waterford cities. Studies are under way for Cork and Limerick cities and a number of other towns and counties across the country. My Department has received Cohesion Funding to undertake a national water audit entailing the collection and analysis of data for each of the medium to large public water supplies which have not yet been the subject of a study, to assess the adequacy of existing systems for each area served, and to make recommendations as to the appropriate approach for improving inadequate supplies. I will be appointing consultants shortly to undertake this study. In the case of private group water supplies, local authorities will be developing, in partnership with the private group scheme sector, strategic rural water plans which will contain, as one of their elements, an examination of future demands and a recommendation as to how these should best be met.

The implementation of water conservation measures is one of my Department's key strategies for ensuring an adequate supply of good quality water to all users. In September 1996, my Department issued a circular on policy in relation to water conservation to all local authorities. The circular included a comprehensive guidance manual prepared by consultants on ways to reduce leakage and invited local authorities to submit proposals in this area. On foot of the proposals received by my Department, the 1998 investment programme includes 14 water conservation schemes at an estimated cost of £50 million, including a major ongoing scheme for the Dublin region. The scheme for the Dublin region, costing £32 million, is based on the findings of the greater Dublin water supply strategic study carried out in 1995. That study indicated that the overall capacity of the major reservoirs serving the Dublin region is 1.2 million cubic metres. Water schemes costing over £10 million will commence construction this year in the greater Dublin area, while the total cost of schemes to continue construction this year is over £60 million. The total cost of schemes to advance through planning in the greater Dublin area in 1998 is over £30 million. My Department's priorities for future investment in water supplies to serve the Dublin region will be guided by the strategy set out in the strategic study, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 11 Jun 1998