I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 156 together.
The overall strategy of investment in water services is to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public domestic water supplies is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme. The current Programme, which runs to the end of 2013, provides for the commencement of contracts with a value of over €800m in relation to water supply infrastructure. This includes contracts to address deficiencies in the quality of supply, to improve the overall capacity of the system and an accelerated programme of mains rehabilitation. The Programme also provides for the advancement of a further range of schemes through planning, for progression to construction in future investment cycles.
The water supply/demand balance in the Greater Dublin Region is considered to be finely balanced at present, with little surplus treatment capacity by international norms. Increased treatment capacity through the expansion of the Ballymore-Eustace Water Treatment Plant, provision of the new Srowland Water Treatment Plant in Kildare using the River Barrow as the source and the expansion of the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant, together with the active watermain replacement/rehabilitation strategy within the region, will address the needs of the Greater Dublin Region in the short/medium-term.
However, studies have shown that in order to meet the long-term demand and to achieve a water supply/demand balance that is in line with international norms, a new source capable of providing up to 250 megalitres per day together with increased treatment capacity for this volume is required before the year 2020 and a further 100 megalitres per day capacity is required by 2030. To address the future requirements in the region, Dublin City Council, as the lead authority, is promoting the Dublin Water Supply Scheme (Long-Term Water Source) project, which is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a scheme to advance through planning. Dublin City Council has completed a Strategic Environmental Assessment and a Preliminary Report for the project. They are now in the process of appointing consultants to advance the detailed planning, statutory processes and ultimately the procurement of the elements comprising the recommended option.
