Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2013
118. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been provided during his period in office for reducing unaccounted for water including all advertising; rainwater harvesting in public buildings including all advertising; and the establishment of Irish Water, all costs including the PWC report and advertising. [12783/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnaccounted for Water is the amount of water (generally expressed as a percentage) which enters a distribution system and which cannot be accounted for by legitimate use. Significant investment in recent years in water management systems and active leakage control has provided the platform for more intensive water mains repair and replacement contracts under the current Water Services Investment Programme, which will continue to be the main focus of capital investment in 2013.
Over €247 million has been spent on water conservation projects in the last decade with €39.9 million spent in 2011 and €39.25 million in 2012. The installation of rainwater harvesting systems on public buildings is a matter for the Office of Public Works. The cost of the PWC report on the establishment of the new public water utility was €179,584 including VAT. Certain costs associated with the water sector reform programme incurred by my Department, local authorities and the Commission for Energy Regulation will be funded by my Department from the Water Services Investment Programme in 2013.
