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Irish Water

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020

Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Questions (265, 266)

Thomas Gould

Question:

265. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the capital expenditure allocation for Irish Water to replace water mains pipes over the period 2021 to 2024. [42871/20]

View answer

Thomas Gould

Question:

266. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation for Irish Water for salaries, maintenance, repairs, burst pipes and overdrafts in tabular form. [42873/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.

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 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.

Irish Water is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as the independent economic regulator. The CRU is responsible for setting the total level of revenue which Irish Water can receive, through Government subvention and from customers, to cover its efficiently incurred costs. This CRU process involves, inter alia, reviewing submissions from Irish Water, including on its investment plan, and thereafter setting appropriate revenue allowances for operating costs, capital costs and other items for given regulatory periods.

As a regulated utility, overall Irish Water expenditure is therefore 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 over €1.3 billion included in my Department's 2021 Estimates in respect of Irish Water’s domestic water services operational and capital expenditure in 2021 is provided with respect to the CRU determination of Irish Water approved revenue.

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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