Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004
244 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which adequate drinking water is likely to be available in the future having regard to increased need generated by extra population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32913/04]
View answer245 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy and quality of drinking water; if sufficient storage is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32914/04]
View answer246 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if adequate drinking water storage capacity is available; his plans to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32915/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 to 246, inclusive, together.
In order to meet anticipated demand for water and water treatment facilities, the national development plan provides for investment of €4.4 billion in water services infrastructure up to the end of 2006, approximately three times the amount expended during the 1994-99 period. 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 985,000. The increase in storage capacity over the same period was sufficient to meet the requirements of a population of 1,575,000.
Management of public drinking water supplies is in general the responsibility of the local authorities which have a range of instruments and measures available to them to conserve sufficient stocks to meet anticipated needs. In support of the water service activities of local authorities, my Department co-ordinates and finances a major programme of investment in improved infrastructure, active leakage control, telemetry and rehabilitation of water mains.
Details of approved proposals for further new and upgraded public water supply schemes are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The schemes included in the programme are mainly derived from regular assessments of needs undertaken by local authorities, at my Department's request, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting additional water supply requirements. These assessments will continue to be taken into account in future phases of the programme.
Successive EPA reports on drinking water quality verify the fundamentally good quality of public drinking water supplies in Ireland. The most recent EPA report, for 2002, confirms a compliance rate with mandatory drinking water standards for public water supplies of over 97%. In addition, earlier this year I announced a record allocation of €110 million for the 2004 rural water programme. The main focus of this allocation is on upgrading group water schemes using sub-standard private sources. These schemes serve approximately 4% of households nationally and planned upgrades are being advanced as a matter of urgency.
Overall, the resources being put in place should ensure that the coverage and quality of the national water supply infrastructure adequately caters for all demands placed on it.
