Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
754. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on his Department’s work to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment in respect of the capital investment plan for wastewater infrastructure; and if he is satisfied with the adequacy of funding. [56718/23]
View answerUisce Éireann, as a single publicly-owned national water services authority, takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. Under Part 5 of the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the economic regulator of Uisce Éireann, and is responsible for setting the total level of revenue that Uisce Éireann can receive over a defined ‘revenue control’ period.
The current revenue control period, RC3, runs from 2020–2024. As part of the revenue control process, the CRU reviewed Uisce Éireann’s Capital Investment Plan and the approved Strategic Funding Plan. The capital investment plan set out a clearly-defined set of priorities to deliver improvements to water and wastewater services throughout Ireland, where they are needed most urgently to meet our EU drinking water and wastewater obligations, while supporting balanced urban and rural development.
The Programme for Government commits to funding Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 commits to almost €6 billion investment to be undertaken by Uisce Éireann in the period from 2021-2025, of which over €4.5 billion will be Voted Exchequer funded in respect of domestic water services.
The next revenue control period, RC4, will run from 2025–2029. As part of this process Uisce Éireann will submit a multi-annual Strategic Funding Plan (SFP) to me and my Department. The SFP will specify the arrangements Uisce Éireann propose to make and measures they propose to take to meet the policy objectives of the Water Services Policy Statement incorporating its estimated funding requirements for capital investment for the period. The SFP will be considered in the context of the ongoing update to the National Development Plan.
This multi-annual funding is key to addressing Ireland's shortcomings in water and wastewater infrastructure, and will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across urban and rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
