Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
358. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific measures in place in his Department to assist local authorities in taking estates in charge; and the way in which they apply to the ongoing issue of malfunctioning effluent treatment plants in those estates. [24514/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraResidential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, are normally eligible for taking-in-charge.
The taking-in-charge of residential estates by local authorities, is provided for under section 180 of the Act. The taking-in-charge of estates is a reserved function of the elected members of the authority.
On 21 September 2020, I announced allocations under the new multi-annual capital investment programme - the Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021 - for the progressive resolution of housing estates with developer provided water services infrastructure, to enable the taking in charge of these estates. This, the first funding cycle of a new multi-annual programme, runs to the end of 2021.
The focus of the first multi-annual programme is on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. The programme will also support a number of pilot projects where connection is not feasible in the immediate future. These pilot projects, together with a major study currently being undertaken by Irish Water, will inform future policy considerations on resolving sub-standard developer provided infrastructure with sustainable solutions.
All local authorities that submitted bids were informed about the outcome of their bids in a circular which included a copy of an independent Expert Panel report on the bids process. The report provides the commentary of the Panel on their evaluation in the case of unsuccessful bids and guidance for the local authority in making future bids in upcoming programmes.
The circular is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/circular-ldpi01-2020-approval-projects-residential-estates-under-developer
