Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
150. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the measures he is taking to ensure Irish Water fulfils the State's obligation to rid public and private drinking water supplies of all toxins above EU safety limits (details supplied). [6932/24]
View answerThe European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No 99 of 2023) from March 2023 transpose the recast Drinking Water Directive into national legislation. Section 4 of the Regulations require the water supplier to ensure drinking water is wholesome and clean, does not present a risk to human health. The water suppliers, in conjunction with the supervisory authorities (Environmental Protection Agency and Local Authorities), are working to implement the regulations and ensure the provision of wholesome and clean drinking water.
As part of Budget 2024, funding of €1.8 billion is being provided to support water services. This investment will allow the delivery of the transformative change required to respond to water quality challenges, biodiversity loss and climate change. The funding will provide for significant improvements in public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies in rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in rivers, lakes and marine areas and compliance with EU Directives.
Overall, Ireland has good drinking water quality. In its Drinking Water Quality Report for 2022, which was published in 2023, the EPA confirmed that “compliance rates are consistently high year to year” with over 99.7% of samples compliant with bacterial and chemical limits in 2022.
