Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is part of the ongoing process. It is a key question. Obviously, there must be a spatial strategy. It is a matter for legislation by the Oireachtas. I presume that local authorities will be part of a local plan, a county plan, a regional plan and a water district management plan, and my expectation is that at the regional level all of those issues will be debated and must be resolved. Clearly, the views of the communities are important in informing that decision. There will be clarity on that in the legislation, which we hope to publish in the autumn. It is an important question.

Deputy Bannon asked about the group water sector. I anticipated his question. The Department informs me that in 2013 funding for the rural water programme was €40 million. In 2012, it was €39.7 million.