Vol. 497 No. 3
141 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will guarantee that essential water and sewerage services will not break down on 1 January 2000 due to the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25075/98]
My Department has a millennium bug remedial programme in place for some time now. As part of this programme a working group has been set up to deal specifically with the threat to embedded systems which are in use in some water and sewerage plants. While the responsibility for ensuring that water and sewerage services are maintained rests with each individual local authority, the working group has been given the task of co-ordinating remedial activities in local authorities thus ensuring that problems are identified and solved and that the experience and expertise gained in solving these problems is shared. In addition, my Department has recently sanctioned the appointment of an expert in this area who will provide technical assistance to the working group and to individual local authorities as required.
While there is little doubt that a substantial amount of work is required over the coming months I am confident that the measures I have outlined will ensure that necessary remedial programmes will be completed for both water and sewerage services.
