Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions. We had a session last week on the draft revised EU drinking water directive, or the directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption, as the European Commission oddly likes to call it. At that meeting, Irish Water's representatives told us that the company had done some initial calculations based on the current draft. Obviously we know that the current draft is unlikely to be the final draft, but Irish Water has done some financial calculations on the cost of capital expenditure and current expenditure required if that draft was to come into force. The representatives said that it would cost between €200 million and €300 million in capital expenditure. That is one-off expenditure over a period of time. There would also be a potential annual operational cost of €100 million for all of the scheme's bits and pieces.

When we asked them what that means to the current capital programme, they said that their difficulty would not necessarily arise in looking for extra money but that their capacity to deliver any additional capital expenditure operations was circumscribed by their existing programme. If they had these additional requirements, it would not be a case of approaching the Minister and asking for extra money; Irish Water simply would not be able to spend that money even if he gave it to the company. This means that other areas of activity would be delayed, for example, upgrading the wastewater treatment plants that are currently being accused of falling foul of the European Court of Justice's legal action, or the pipe upgrades.

Obviously that would create a real dilemma if the directive came into force in its current form. Rather than having an argument about whether Irish Water can have more money, we would have to decide which would be prioritised; upgrading the wastewater treatment plants, fixing the leaking pipes and trying to save water or meeting these new requirements. Has the Minister had conversations with Irish Water about that dilemma arising from the directive? If not, is that something he should be doing? Obviously it is a significant set of concerns.

In that context, and in regard to the capital investment that is outlined in the schedule, can the Minister give us an update on the progress in tackling those 38-odd agglomerations that are in breach of the urban wastewater treatment directive? Can he give us an update on any conversations he has had about the legal challenge that the Commission has put to the European Court of Justice?

I understand the Minister is still waiting for an answer on that but any updates he can provide would be useful.

Can the Minister also tell us whether he is looking beyond those 38 agglomerations? The Environmental Protection Agency has identified up to 100 wastewater treatment plants which are at some level of risk. Can the Minister give us some update as to where that sits in the context of the existing capital plan?

The Minister mentioned the extra €2 million for group water schemes. I stand corrected if I am wrong but I understand that relates to the standing charge, the annual fee or subvention. The Minister obviously gave a commitment to respond to the request to look at whether additional capital investment supports would be required, as per the recommendation of the Oireachtas committee. Can he update us on that piece of work as well?