Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
559. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the capital expenditure programme for Irish Water in the years from 2015 to 2020; the way this expenditure programme will be funded; if the Exchequer will be required to contribute to the funding of this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46320/14]
View answerPrior to 1 January 2014 capital funding for public water services was provided from my Department’s Water Services Investment programme (WSIP) and Rural Water Programme (RWP). Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Some €239m has been provided to Irish Water in 2014 in respect of its core capital programme in 2014. A capital contribution of €185m was made in August 2014 from the Central Fund and a further €54m was advanced by way of a convertible loan. It is intended that a further €406m will be provided to Irish Water in respect of capital investment in 2015 and 2016.
Details of Irish Water’s costs, including capital costs, are outlined in their revenue and water charges plan which was reviewed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Details of the review and the CER’s decision are available at www.cer.ie.
A note on the financing of Irish Water in 2015 and 2016, including details of Irish Water’s capital spending has been published on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39557,en.pdf.
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.
Irish Water is working on a five year investment plan and a twenty five year Water Services Strategic Plan. The CER will determine the level of capital investment after 2016, taking account of the twenty-five year Water Services Strategic Plan being prepared by Irish Water which will be submitted during 2015 for Ministerial approval.
