Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2013
169. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities will be responsible for the full costs of maintenance and other associated costs with group schemes in view of the fact that customers will be liable for water charges from Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8996/13]
View answerThe Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB requires the establishment of a national water utility and the introduction of domestic water charges. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to install water meters in households connected to public water supplies and to introduce charges based on usage. Group water schemes will not be metered as part of this metering programme.
Responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided towards the capital costs of group water schemes, and of the subsidy scheme under which funding is provided towards the operational costs of group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. My Department will remain responsible for the overall policy and funding of the non-public water sector, including the group water sector. Over the past decade, substantial improvements have been made in the group water sector, reflected in improved infrastructure and management and leading to greater compliance with drinking water standards. This has been accomplished through a partnership approach between the Department, the local authorities and the group water sector itself, with the important involvement of the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. This co-operative approach will be maintained as the reform of water services provision is progressed.
