Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Standards of Service in Water Supply: Irish Water and CER

4:40 pm

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My colleague mentioned it, but I also want to refer to the concern about the delivery of water services infrastructure in rural areas. As there are fewer houses and businesses, it will cost more per unit to deliver a sewage treatment plant in a village. During the years many smaller towns and villages failed to come up with their polluter pays contribution because the local authority did not have the money when that system was introduced. They are undeveloped, so to speak; therefore, it makes the case for doing something about the current position. In my area there are 30 applications to the EPA for discharge licences, but only 15 have been issued. The other 15 have been pending for quite some time because works are required. That gives weight to the idea that we need an organisation such as Uisce Éireann to fix things. However, I am unclear on at what point it will state a sewage treatment plant in a certain area is not commercially viable, will not provide a return on investment and that it is over to the Department. I understand group water schemes come under the heading of rural water, but where will Uisce Éireann draw the line in the case of villages?

I am familiar with some areas which need upgraded wastewater treatment plants but which are in SACs or NHAs. Will these areas be given equal priority? Parts of rural Ireland are heavily designated environmentally. Shellfish are designated off some coastlines where the local authority is responsible for water quality. If there is any diminution in that regard, they will be prosecuted. Will this matter be given priority? I am not just talking about drinking water.

I also have some questions on pricing.

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