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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Water Quality.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

77 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he is taking to address the quality of drinking water supplies in group water schemes following the recent decision by the European Commission to initiate legal proceedings against the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1693/00]

Since taking office I have increased the annual level of investment in rural water supplies by over 450%. Last year some £39 million was spent compared to the £8.5 million in 1996. As a further measure of the Government's commitment to resolving water quality and related difficulties confronting the group water sector, a record £420 million is being provided in the National Development Plan, 2000–06 for a vigorous rural water programme.

I am very much aware of the extent of the quality problems in group water schemes, particularly those using private sources, and have never made any attempt to minimise them. By and large these schemes, which supply some 50,000 households nationally, lack any form of water treatment or disinfection. This is at the heart of the problem and is the focus of the extensive measures I have initiated to help bring groups into compliance with drinking water standards.

In June 1998 I set up the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, representing the group scheme sector, the rural organisations, the local authorities and my own Department, to advise me on the policies needed to bring rural water supplies up to a satisfactory standard and to oversee the implementation of these policies by local authorities. Based on the plan of action subsequently drawn up by the committee, comprehensive county level strategies are now being developed to tackle the quality issue. These involve detailed examinations of all rural water supply systems, identifying the need for appropri ate upgrading and renewal works, prioritising objectives and optimising the use of public and private water infrastructure to give the best service to rural consumers. In tandem with the county plans, new water treatment technologies are being piloted in group schemes at some 30 locations. These pilot projects are expected to show the way forward for group schemes to deal with water quality problems.
The Government has set as a clear objective its intention to tackle, once and for all, the difficult and complex task of improving rural water supplies through an agreed strategy between the main stakeholders, properly researched and planned infrastructure measures and, most importantly of all, adequate financial resources to cover the necessary investment.
I am disappointed that, against the background of the enormous and genuine efforts being made on the ground to improve the quality and efficiency of rural water supplies, the Commission should now be contemplating court action against Ireland. The Commission itself acknowledges that the Government is moving in the right direction after what it describes as "years of neglect". This is an extensive problem, involving complex issues, including the issue of private ownership of group infrastructure, which cannot be resolved overnight.
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