Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2013
165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he and-or his Department has identified the full extent of capital investment required to augment-upgrade and or otherwise improve the sourcing, transmission and storage of domestic water supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34109/13]
View answer166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total capital investment in the augmentation of drinking water supplies in each of the past five years to date; when he expects the existing faulty pipe systems to be replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34110/13]
View answer167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total investment in waste water management in each of the past five years to date; the expected expenditure in this area over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34111/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 167, inclusive, together.
The overall strategy of investment in water services is to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public domestic water supplies is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme.
The current Programme, which runs to the end of 2013, provides for the commencement of contracts with a value of over €800m in relation to water supply infrastructure. This includes contracts to address deficiencies in the quality of supply, to improve the overall capacity of the system and an accelerated programme of mains rehabilitation. The programme also provides for the commencement of contracts with a value of about €1 billion in relation to waste water infrastructure.
A breakdown of expenditure over the past 5 years is set out in the following table below.
|
Year |
Water |
Water Conservation |
Waste water
|
Total WSIP Spend |
|
- |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
2008 |
121 |
31 |
239 |
391 |
|
2009 |
130 |
27 |
255 |
412 |
|
2010 |
85 |
38 |
284 |
407 |
|
2011 |
92 |
38 |
220 |
350 |
|
2012 |
78 |
39 |
151 |
268 |
Responsibility for the provision of water services will pass to Irish Water at the end of the year.
Insofar as future capital investment is concerned, it is envisaged that in developing investment plans for public water services, Irish Water will take account of the requirements flowing from the programmes of measures in River Basin Management Plans, and the need to support economic and regional development. Irish Water is engaged with the Department, and the Water Services Transition Office established by the County and City Managers’ Association, in planning the transition of the current water services capital programme, as well as looking at longer-term strategic planning for the sector and developing an appropriate asset management plan. Irish water will continue to prepare over the coming months to assume statutory responsibility for the delivery of the public water services capital programme from 1 January 2014.
