Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
1039. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the income from extraction charges for bottled water companies that extract spring water from the ground and sell it for profit; and the amount of water that is being extracted. [12285/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Supplies Act 1942 governs the abstraction by local authorities of water for public drinking supply. There are at present no legislative provisions in Ireland dealing with the abstraction of water by parties other than local authorities.
However, the Water Framework Directive requires that abstractions of surface water or ground water which are likely to have a significant effect on water status must be regulated. In November 2017, the Government approved the commencement of work on a General Scheme of a Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill which will govern the abstraction of water in a proportionate and efficient way.
I expect that a proportionate abstraction control regime can be developed to effectively manage risks and pressures without imposing an unnecessary regulatory burden. Such a regime would focus on the most significant abstraction volumes and pressures, in the context of the appropriate management of our water resources. I intend to initiate a thorough public consultation on this matter in the coming months.
