Water Services Provision

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Questions (400)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

400. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will be having a water services investment programme in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15349/13]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 353 and 357 of 5 March 2013. The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 will run until the end of the year. At that point, following the enactment of the necessary legislation, responsibility for public water service planning and delivery will transfer to Irish Water. The Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy , which is published on my Department’s website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. A key objective of the Government in establishing Irish Water is to provide a mechanism to finance necessary capital investment in the sector, and accelerate the delivery of such investment. The development of a capital investment programme to succeed the current Water Services Investment Programme is part of the reform work currently underway.