Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
522. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of kilometres of leaking mains that have been replaced in the years 2010 to 2014; and the amount spent. [45997/14]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. This includes measures to address leakage such as the repair and replacement of public water mains. My Department has collected information from local authorities on the length of rehabilitated water mains for the years 2011 and 2012. In the year to end September 2011, 222 km of public water supply pipes were replaced or rehabilitated. For 2012 the equivalent figure was 273 km of pipes.
Significant investment by my Department in water conservation for the areas of water management systems and active leakage control has provided the platform for more intensive water mains repair and replacement contracts. Expenditure by my Department for water conservation works for the years 2010 to 2013, which includes water mains repair and replacement, is set out as follows:
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
€m |
37.7 |
39.9 |
39.3 |
43.5 |
Irish Water has published its Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016 and this is available online at:
http://www.water.ie/news/proposed-capital-investme/Proposed-Capital-Investment-Plan-2014-2016.pdf
The plan identifies where Irish Water considers investment in infrastructure is necessary for the effective performance of its functions, including measures to address leakage in public water mains. Irish Water has also established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
