Wastewater Treatment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023

Tuesday, 7 November 2023

Ceisteanna (596)

Martin Browne

Ceist:

596. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the impact that the slow progress being made in the taking in charge of housing estates is having upon the environment in situations whereby the developer-provided infrastructure, including wastewater treatment plants, are malfunctioning; if his Department has communicated with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the consequences for local water sources and public safety that may result from delays in resolving the transfer of responsibility for developer-provided infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47297/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department’s Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI) is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public network but instead rely on infrastructure provided by developers of the estate.

The aim of the multi-annual programme is to provide funding to local authorities to assist them in implementing solutions that resolve legacy DPI water services issues thus progressively enabling these estates to be taken in charge.

Funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, for legacy water services issues (this sum includes a small allocation for domestic lead pipe remediation).

In June 2023, I announced allocations under the multi-annual programme of over €14.7 million to benefit over 850 households. This was in addition to allocations in September 2020 of over €3.36 million to benefit almost 950 households. The two tranches account for almost 25% of the total number of households depending on DPI for their water services.

It will take a number of funding programmes to fully resolve estates with developer provided water services infrastructure, however, my Department is fully committed to progressing the taking in charge of these estates through increased funding over the coming years.