Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 May 2008
258 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the protocols he has issued to local authorities in respect of dealing with the potential for cryptosporidium entering public water supplies; the funding he has put in place to deal with the issue from a prevention point of view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20286/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department has in the past issued guidance to local authorities in relation to cryptosporidium in water supplies, since the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007 came into effect, the Environmental Protection Agency is the supervisory authority for public water supplies. I understand that, in that capacity, the Agency issued a Guidance Booklet "Risk Screening Methodology for Cryptosporidium" to each local authority in January 2008. My Department's current Water Services Investment Programme includes 300 water supply schemes with a combined estimated value of €2.4 billion. A primary objective of these, and similar schemes funded under previous phases of the Programme, is to ensure that water supplied to the public is clean and wholesome.
