Vol. 564 No. 1
316 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which his Department has evaluated requirements in regard to domestic water supply; if steps are likely to be taken to achieve required objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9018/03]
317 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which capital investment in the domestic water supply is adequate to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9019/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together.
The national development plan provides €4.9 billion for investment in water services infrastructure up to the end of 2006, approximately three times the amount expended during the 1994-1999 period. Expenditure by my Department on water services will exceed €470 million this year. Substantial increases in water treatment and storage capacity are being achieved as a result of this increased investment. Schemes completed since 1997 have produced additional drinking water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 586,000. The increase in water production capacity in 2000 and 2001 alone was sufficient to meet the requirements of a population of 378,000 people and was equal to 45% of the corresponding figure for the entire period of the previous National Development Plan 1994-1999. The increase in storage capacity produced during 2000 and 2001 was sufficient to meet the requirements of a population of 437,000, representing 50% of the corresponding output in the 1994-99 period.
