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Irish Water

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 July 2020

Thursday, 23 July 2020

Questions (35, 60)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

35. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will continue to ensure that Irish Water has sufficient funding to address issues arising at wastewater treatment plants in view of issues which have arisen at Belgooly, County Cork. [17642/20]

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Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

60. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if €100 million in funding was cut from the capital budget of Irish Water in 2020; and the impact this cut has had on wastewater treatment plant upgrade deadlines and in turn on the EU Commission action against the State for breaches of the urban wastewater treatment directive. [17629/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 60 together.

I refer to the replies to Question Nos. [16507/20] and [17528/20] of 21 and 22 July, 2020, respectively.

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. The Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 sets out Irish Water’s multi-annual strategic business planning funding requirement of €11bn to 2024, comprised of a €6.1bn investment in infrastructure and assets, including €1.9bn for waste water, and €4.9bn in operating costs. In regard to overall investment, the Programme for Government states that the Government will fund Irish Water's capital investment plan for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis and deliver the €8.5 billion funding package committed to in Project Ireland 2040. This overall funding commitment is key to addressing Ireland's shortcomings in water and waste water infrastructure, including those aspects which are subject to European Commission infringement action.

As a regulated utility, overall Irish Water expenditure is subject to approval by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, while in turn the funding provided by the Exchequer to Irish Water in relation to domestic water services is subject to the annual Budget and Estimates process. The voted provision of almost €1.2 billion included in my Department's 2020 Estimates in respect of Irish Water’s domestic water services operational and capital expenditure in 2020 is €74m less that the original Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) determination of Irish Water approved revenue for 2020 which was published in December 2019.

In making its decision in December 2019, the CRU withheld its determination on the full capital allowance for the revenue control period 2020-24. The CRU will shortly make its full determination on Irish Water's total capital allowance for this period within the coming weeks. Irish Water's future annual exchequer funding amount will continue to be determined through the annual Budget and Estimates process, having regard to the forthcoming CRU revenue determination.

Further detail in relation to the breakdown of Irish Water's capital investment should be sought from Irish Water. It may be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at Oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

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