Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 6

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

93 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the position in relation to the adequacy of public water supplies with particular reference to the needs to meet industrial and domestic requirements for the foreseeable future; if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need for major investment in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23435/99]

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

The new national development plan provides for expenditure of £3 billion over the next seven years on water and sewerage infrastructure. This is three times the size of the expected outturn of £960 million for these services under the current NDP and will require a proportionately much greater contribution from the Exchequer because of the reduction in cohesion funding resulting from economic advances in recent years. Early in the new year I will be publishing a comprehensive water services investment programme which will set out in detail the areas and schemes that will benefit from this unprecedented level of spending.

The increased investment envisaged in the new NDP is an acceleration of the pattern of recent years which has seen spending on water and sewerage schemes increase by 50 per cent in 1999 over the 1998 figure, and to twice the 1996 level. Between 1994 and the end of 1999 over £960 million will have been spent on water and sewerage services which, even allowing for adjustments for inflation, is well in excess of the £605 million envisaged at the start of the national development plan 1994-99. Major water schemes completed between 1994 and 1998 have provided an increase in water treatment capacity nationally of 44 million gallons of water per day or the equivalent of providing an additional supply for over 812,000 persons.

The 1999 programme included 18 major public water schemes to commence construction this year at a cost of £61 million, a further 16 to continue construction at a cost of £79 million and 27 schemes worth £152 million to be advanced through planning. It also included 15 water conservation schemes with a total cost of just under £50 million – 14 of these are already underway.

To determine the extent of future development of the water supply systems my Department has funded a series of studies over the last few years to assess existing levels of service and to estimate future demand, taking account of parameters such as population increases and projected industrial and commercial development. A major study was completed in 1996 on the water supplies in the greater Dublin region, including counties Kildare and Wicklow. This is currently being reviewed. Studies have also been carried out in other cities and several other major population centres. These studies form the basis for the water conservation programme being funded by my Department.

I have also commissioned consultants to carry out a national water study of all medium to large public water supplies. This study will assess the adequacy of existing systems for each area served and make recommendations on an appropriate approach for improving inadequate supplies to cater for existing and future demand. The consultants are due to report by the end of this year.

To assist in the development of rural water supplies, my Department has asked county councils, in consultation with the voluntary group sector, to prepare strategic rural water plans which will map out the best approach to the provision of an adequate water supply to households served by private group or individual supplies. As part of this process, an assessment will be made of existing levels of services, quality of sources and current and future demand.

My Department invited all local authorities in October 1998 to prepare and submit an assessment of needs at county or regional level for water services capital works. The needs assessments have a medium term horizon to the end of 2006 and a longer term horizon covering the 20 year period commencing in 1999. They are required to take account of information emerging from the national water audit and the strategic rural water plans and will have regard to the development plan for the area and any relevant strategic planning guidelines. These inputs have all helped to quantify the amount of investment needed in our water supplies to support future economic and social development, as reflected in the new National Development Plan.