Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 1

Written Answers. - Water Supplies.

Ivor Callely

Question:

69 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the provisions, if any, being made to ensure the expanding Dublin area will have adequate water supplies to meet demand in the years ahead; the projects, if any, submitted to him in this regard by Dublin Corporation; if these have been approved; if so, the cost associated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23409/98]

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

My Department's priorities for future investment in water supplies to serve the Dublin region is guided by the strategy set out in the Greater Dublin Water Supply Strategic Study. This study has made a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring that the demand for water will be met and that satisfactory levels of service and standards will be complied with over the next 20 years. A copy of this report is available in the Oireachtas Library.

A major investment programme has been put in place to ensure that the needs of the expanding Dublin area can be met. This programme consists of the expansion of the Leixlip Water Treatment Works, a major water conservation programme and a number of other projects to upgrade and refurbish treatment works, reservoirs and the distribution system. This programme represents an investment in excess of £110 million. Details of the schemes included in this programme submitted by Dublin Corporation are as follows:

Scheme	Status
Dublin Water Conservation Project	At construction
Bohernabreena Spillways	Expected to commence construction in 1999.
Roundwood, Contract. 94 (Wavewall)	Expected to commence construction in 1999.
Covering of Reservoirs at Stillorgan, Vartry and Ballyboden	Preliminary Reports under consideration for Vantry and Stillorgan; Revised ContractDocuments awaited for Ballyboden.

In addition, under the serviced land initiative, schemes submitted by the Dublin local authorities, costing £11.5 million, have been approved to extend water supplies to development land. Included in this are Dublin Corporation schemes in respect of the HARP, North Docklands and Pelletstown areas.

Apart from the investment referred to above, the only other major scheme submitted by Dublin Corporation is in respect of a further expansion of the Ballymore Eustace treatment works, at an estimated cost of over £40 million. This proposal is being considered in the context of the overall strategy for the Dublin area.