Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

This debate has covered many areas related to the water sector. This demonstrates the complexity of delivering and maintaining such a vital public service. It is important to emphasise that recent disruptions that were very difficult for families, businesses and the farming community are not the norm. These arose from adverse and unprecedented severe weather conditions. Met Éireann has characterised December 2010 as the most extreme cold spell on record in terms of depth of cold.

Lessons had been learned from the weather events of 2009 and early 2010 and these informed the response to the most recent weather event. As Minister of State with responsibility for the rural water programme, I wish to be associated with the expressions of gratitude of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government yesterday for local authority staff and contractors who responded quickly and willingly and who worked long hours in difficult conditions to ensure a return to normal service as quickly as possible.

The more than €6 billion invested in water and waste water services since 2000 has made significant inroads into addressing the decades of underinvestment in the sector. This investment has led to increased capacity in our water and waste water treatment plants, equivalent to the needs of a population of 1.1 million between 2000 and 2009; increased water storage equivalent to the needs of a population of 1.6 million people in the same period; improvements in drinking water quality; compliance with waste water standards, particularly in the Dublin area; and reduced water loss through leakage.

Much of the water service investment is unseen, whether it is the repair or replacement of pipes in the 25,000 kilometre underground network, the provision of treatment plants, which are often located in simple structures or less visible locations, belying the complex and sophisticated treatment processes they contain, or the computerised water management systems such as telemetry assisting in the management of networks.

The Government is committed to continued high levels of investment in water services. Its investment is informed by a clear strategy that prioritises water conservation, with some €320 million earmarked for investment in new contracts for mains rehabilitation in the water service investment programme for 2010 to 2012. That €320 million is based on the requirements as presented by the local authorities; the Department did not pluck the figure from the sky. Every county is included in that programme and it is matter for local authorities and the Department to prioritise.

I have heard comment that money that was allocated was not spent, with Deputy Naughten mentioning €70 million that was allocated to Roscommon County Council. I suggest he should not make that complaint here; he should talk to the Fine Gael-led council in Roscommon and ask it why the money was not spent. Fine Gael is in charge of that council and it should get on with the job because the money exists.

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