Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 February 2014
98. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will make funding available to Donegal County Council to upgrade treatment plants and to replace the lead piping and asbestos piping in seven Donegal plants which serve more than 27,000 people so that they can avoid prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5056/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no responsibility for, or role to play in, the management, maintenance or operation of water infrastructure. Since 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has profiled public water supplies to determine whether the supply needs to be replaced or upgraded, or operational practices improved to ensure that there are no risks to the supply of drinking water. Supplies which require such improvement are included in a list known as the Remedial Action List (RAL). Many of these supplies are small and where infrastructure improvements are required, my Department has made funding available to local authorities through a special contingency fund under the Rural Water Programme (RWP). Over €30m has been provided by my Department since 2008 under the RWP for this purpose.
The 2008 RAL included over 30 schemes in Donegal requiring remedial action. This number has been reduced to 10 in the 2013 RAL. During this period my Department has funded over €2.4m worth of RAL works in County Donegal under the Rural Water Programme. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. It is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 that will provide for the transition of projects that were included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013.
