Vol. 528 No. 1
14 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the findings of a recent OECD report which states that the health of 400,000 people is at risk from substandard drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29225/00]
67 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will take any action arising out of the latest OECD report in relation to substandard drinking water for up to 400,000 people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29220/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 67 together.
Statutory responsibility for the provision of drinking water supplies and for upholding the prescribed quality standards rests with sanitary authorities. Stringent drinking water standards are prescribed in the European Communities (Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988 (S.I. No. 81 of 1988). Article 4 of these regulations places a duty on sanitary authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets these standards. This duty is performed under the general supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency publishes a report annually on the quality of drinking water in Ireland and a copy of the report for 1999, which is being published today, is available in the Oireachtas Library.
The OECD report correctly indicates that all water supplies do not fully comply with the stringent drinking water standards and that private group water supplies are the most problematic. The report also acknowledges that measures have been put in place, particularly under the rural water programme, to rectify the deficiencies being experienced in these supplies.
It is a matter of serious concern that any supply of drinking water is deficient in quality and, accordingly, the National Development Plan 2000-06 provides for largescale investment in water services. The total provision of 3.8 billion euros investment under the plan will include a particular focus on: the provision of additional water treatment and distribution capacity; maintenance of water quality standards; water conservation and leakage reduction; and network rehabilitation. The rural water programme, addressing the needs of private supplies with water quality problems, will receive £420 million over the period of the plan.
