Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2024
59. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he would consider introducing a scheme to bring a public water supply to all houses and businesses in the country, similar to the national broadband scheme for broadband, in view of the fact that approximately 10% of all households depend on private supplies of water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15307/24]
View answerThe Government’s vision for water services – whether publicly supplied by Uisce Éireann or otherwise delivered under the Rural Water Programme - is set out in the Water Services Policy Statement 2024 to 2030, which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/443cc-water-services-policy-statement-2024-2030/
Factors such as distance and geography mean that connection to the public water system operated by Uisce Éireann, is unlikely to be a technically feasible or economically viable solution for all households and businesses. Exchequer support provided through the Rural Water Programme will continue to be necessary to deliver improvements to private water services in areas of rural Ireland where there is no access to piped water services. The National Development Plan includes an allocation of €175 million over the period 2021 to 2025 for investment in rural water infrastructure under the Rural Water Programme.
Overall investment in water services, whether provided through the public water system operated by Uisce Éireann or under the Rural Water Programme, continue to be maintained at high-levels year on year to ensure security of quality supplies to customers across the country while achieving greater environmental compliance in keeping with our Water Framework Directive obligations.
