Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
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Water Abstraction Regulation
682. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the impact repeal of the Water Supplies Act 1942, as proposed in the water environment (abstractions) Bill, will have on the property rights of persons generally; if he is satisfied that the full entitlements to compensation set out in section 14 of the 1942 Act will be carried forward into the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43344/18]
View answerThe Heads of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill were approved by Government in July 2018. It is intended that the Bill will give effect to the obligation under the Water Framework Directive to establish a system of registration and control over the abstraction of water and proposals in this regard were laid out in Ireland's River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, which I published in April of this year.
The draft Heads propose to repeal the Water Supplies Act 1942 and part of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964 and replace them with a modern, fit-for-purpose control regime over the abstraction of water. Recognising the relatively low abstraction pressures in Ireland, the regime will focus on the most significant abstraction volumes and pressures and will be risk-based in order to effectively manage abstraction risks and pressures without imposing an unnecessary legislative burden.
I launched a public consultation on the draft Heads in August, which closed on 12 October 2018. All submissions received, as well as existing legal provisions governing the area of abstractions, including compensation, will be examined closely in the continuing development of the legislation.
