Ms Cathy Mannion:

Deputy Coppinger asked about the capital programme and stated that Irish Water in a statement said it submitted the plan to the CER to review and, ultimately, decide on the schemes that are to be progressed. I see it slightly differently to that because there are two regulators who have a say in this. First, the CER is the economic regulator but the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is the quality regulator. The EPA has strong views, particularly on wastewater compliance. A good deal of work has to be done for Ireland to comply with European directives. Irish Water has published an investment plan for approximately €2.7 billion. Our consultants who reviewed that plan said that every one of those projects are needed but what we believe will happen, at least in the coming years, is that this €2.7 billion is not enough to fund those and there will have to be some prioritisation as to what is the important scheme to do first and what to do second, third and fourth. Everything gets done ultimately, but it is a case of timing and what is started first, second and third. I see the CER, the EPA and the Department having separate but linked roles in deciding how we prioritise and approve the list of investments.

The CER will work with the EPA - and we have started this work - and the Department on how best to prioritise.