Finian McGrath
Question:193 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a matter (details supplied). [17270/10]
View answerWednesday, 28 April 2010
Questions (161, 162)
Written answers
A combination of water conservation measures and investment to increase the supply of water are required to meet additional demand from the Greater Dublin water supply area over the coming years. This approach is reflected in the contracts and schemes included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 — 2012, which I published last week. The new investment programme provides for
the commencement of a number of contracts to upgrade some existing water supply facilities and to provide for the abstraction and treatment of water from the Barrow;
the commencement of a number of water conservation contracts focused on mains rehabilitation; and
the continued consideration of options for a scheme to provide a new long-term source to service growth in demand in the Greater Dublin area.
My Department has already provided €2.55 million under the Water Services Investment Programme to Dublin City Council to fund a study of longer term water supply needs and options to meet the needs of the greater Dublin area. The initial study, which was completed in 2006, estimated that the region will require an extra 300 million litres of water per day from a new source by 2031. It also concluded that only two options, taking water from the Shannon or the provision of a sea-water desalination facility in the region, could meet the capacity requirements in the medium and long term.
The City Council has undertaken a Strategic Environmental Assessment Process in relation to these proposals. It has also engaged consultants to prepare a Preliminary Report, which will outline the options for source development, the type of treatment to be provided and how the water should be delivered/distributed, and make recommendations on the optimum solutions. Both the Shannon (with a number of possible options on the location for abstraction) and desalination options will be addressed in this Preliminary Report. It is understood that the Strategic Environmental Assessment Process, which included public consultation, is being brought to a conclusion by the City Council, and it is anticipated that the Preliminary Report will be submitted to my Department in the coming months.
In addition to the provision of required treatment capacity, the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 — 2012 places a strong focus on water conservation measures. This builds on work already undertaken by Dublin City Council, as the lead authority in the Dublin area for the water conservation programme. During the period from 1996 to 2002, the City Council implemented active leakage detection and reduction, carried out some mains renewal and installed leakage control infrastructure. This work, which was funded under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme, resulted in water lost through leakage, and otherwise unaccounted for, being reduced from over 42% to about 28%.
My Department is now funding Dublin City Council's water mains rehabilitation programme, which is designed to build on the work already done and reduce further the level of unaccounted for water. Dublin City Council, as the lead authority in the Dublin region, has to date carried out a suite of five contracts of water main rehabilitation, mainly in the city area, as part of the Dublin Region Water main Rehabilitation Project. The total approved cost of these contracts is almost €16 million. Contract Documents for three further contracts are under examination in my Department and are being dealt with as quickly as possible. In total, the Water Services Investment Programme for 2010-2012 provides for the commencement of contracts under the Dublin Region Water mains Rehabilitation Project to the value of approximately €48 million.
Noel Grealish
Question:194 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if planning permission is required to sink a well for domestic use; if planning permission is required to sink a well for commercial use at a hotel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17318/10]
View answerThe sinking of a well, drilling of a bore hole, erection of a pump or construction of a pump house, for the purpose of providing a domestic water supply, or a group water supply scheme in accordance with a plan or proposal approved by the Minister or a local authority for the purpose of making a grant towards the cost of such works, is specifically exempted from the requirement to obtain planning permission (Article 6 and Schedule 2, Part 1, Class 44 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001). In other circumstances, it is matter for the relevant planning authority, in the first instance, to decide whether the sinking of a well constitutes development, and therefore requires planning permission. Under section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a question in regard to whether works or structures are or are not development may be referred to An Bord Pleanála.