Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask about the interface between Irish Water and the local authorities. Group water schemes are predominantly in rural areas and on every day, many people in rural areas are left without water.

What can we do to improve the interface between Uisce Éireann and the local authorities?

I want to ask about circular WSP01/16. What is the justification for requiring sureties when dealing with community water schemes? The main issue is the debt faced by group water schemes that are waiting for Uisce Éireann to take them over to wipe off that debt. Uisce Éireann is saying it will not take over the group water schemes until they are up to a certain standard, and that is fine, but the local authority is saying it does not have the resources is to bring the group water schemes up to the standard demanded by Uisce Éireann. In the meantime, customers are left without water. Volunteers who hear of billions of euro being spent in this area are trying their best to supply water to their neighbours and their neighbourhoods. Will Uisce Éireann speak to me about the justification for circular WSP01/16, particularly in relation to planning permissions? This circular relates to procedures for planning authorities with regard to planning permissions, including the conditions related to private developments to be connected to the public water supply. However, it does not reference community water connections, CWCs, which are essentially extensions to public mains and not developments. As such, they do not require planning permission. Will the witnesses bring clarity to that?