John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

In the last ten years a total of €1.8 billion has been invested by the Exchequer in a new water supply infrastructure under the water services investment programme. Recent water services investment programmes have also included specific sub-programmes on water conservation. Funding was provided to local authorities to put in place water management systems to monitor water use and losses throughout supply networks, fix leaks and replace defective pipes where repair is no longer an economic option.

Exchequer spending on water conservation over the last ten years amounted to €168 million. This investment provides the platform for intensive investment in mains rehabilitation as this is a key priority under the next water services investment programme for 2010-12, which is currently being finalised in my Department. In inviting local authorities to prepare needs assessments as an input to developing the new programme, the authorities were asked to prioritise key contracts and schemes in this area and they will also be required to prioritise water conservation works as an alternative to new infrastructure provision. A greater proportion of the funds available annually under the programme will be assigned specifically to water conservation works.

Current water supply problems are being managed by local authorities as best they can through intensive efforts to identity and repair leaks and by encouraging the public to use water sparingly. Authorities are also reducing pressure in their systems and, as a last resort, cutting off water supplies at night time in order to optimise the management of reservoir storage. Arrangements have been put in place to provide tanker water to areas without piped water supplies.

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