Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Wastewater Treatment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Ceisteanna (330)

David Stanton

Ceist:

330. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the additional level of support that will be provided to Irish Water to enable the Carrigtwohill wastewater treatment plant to take wastewater overflow from the Midleton area of County Cork in order to facilitate increased local housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18163/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level.  Irish Water as a single national water services authority is taking a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. 

In relation to overall funding, my Department approved Irish Water's Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 on 7 November 2018, following its consideration by Government.  The Strategic Funding Plan sets out Irish Water’s multi-annual strategic business plan funding requirement of €11bn to 2024, comprised of a €6.1bn investment in infrastructure and assets and €4.9bn in operating costs. The Strategic Funding Plan is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/irish_water_strategic_funding_plan.pdf.

The funding plan in turn was developed in the context of the Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025, which my Department published in 2018 following its approval by Government. The Policy Statement gives clear direction to strategic planning and decision making on water and wastewater services in Ireland. The Policy Statement sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of Quality, Conservation, and Future Proofing, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans. The Policy Statement is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/water_services_policy_statement_2018-2025_0.pdf.

In addition to the above, Irish Water is also regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as the independent economic regulator.  The CRU is responsible for setting the total level of revenue which Irish Water can receive, through Government subvention and from customers, to cover its efficiently incurred costs.  This CRU process involves, inter alia, reviewing submissions from Irish Water, including on its capital investment plan for the five year period from 2020 to 2024 to support Irish Water’s strategic objectives, as set out in the Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP) and its Strategic Funding Plan, and thereafter setting appropriate revenue allowances for operating costs, capital costs and other items for given regulatory periods.  The actual allowed operational expenditure and capital investment is therefore decided by the CRU as part of the economic regulatory process and the annual budgetary and estimates process in respect of domestic water services.

The prioritisation and progression of individual projects, including the one referred to in the question, is a matter for determination by Irish Water within this overall funding regime.

The CRU is due to shortly make its full determination on Irish Water's total capital allowance for the period 2020-24. Exchequer funding is provided to Irish Water for the provision of domestic water services. Irish Water's annual Exchequer funding amount is determined through the estimates and budgetary process, having regard to the forthcoming CRU revenue determination.

Barr
Roinn