Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2013
354. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current average cost of production of a cubic litre of water by local authorities for domestic and commercial consumption; the current revenue and capital cost to the State for the provision of domestic water supply and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11442/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of treating water supplies is a matter for each individual local authority and information on the costs for domestic consumption is not available in my Department. Local authorities are required to recover the cost of providing water services from the non-domestic sector. Full details of local authority current and capital expenditure on water services is outlined in the Local Government Annual Financial Statement, which is published each year. Expenditure is funded through a combination of Exchequer grants, general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund, and the local authorities’ own resources. Over €6 billion in exchequer resources has been invested in Water Services Capital Infrastructure since the early 1990s with some €2.4 billion or 36% of the overall total related to water investment and water conservation. The exchequer allocation for 2013 is some €329m.
