Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
1081. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the total costs payable by Ireland as per a European Commission judgment of 28 March 2019 regarding Ireland’s obligations to meet directive 91/271/EEC, Case C-427/17; if there are ongoing fines relating to non-compliance on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11406/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no fines or costs payable by Ireland as a result of the judgment in March 2019 by the Court of Justice of the European Union on Ireland's non-compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Following the judgment my Department, accompanied by Irish Water, met Commission officials and proposed a programme of measures to ensure this case is resolved. My Department wrote to the European Commission in January this year to outline progress on the programme of measures and will continue to update the Commission on progress on this case on a regular basis.
Irish Water continues to develop and implement a long-term investment perspective in order to strategically address the deficiencies in the public water and waste water system. Building water and waste water treatment plants, as well as upgrading or building new water and waste water networks, requires significant and sustained investment. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 provides for significant investment in public water and wastewater infrastructure over the course of the plan to ensure the continued operation, repair and upgrading of Ireland’s water and waste water infrastructure to support social and economic development across the State and ensure compliance with EU Directives.
