John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. I thank Deputy Aindrias Moynihan for raising it and for providing me with the opportunity to outline the position on the prioritisation of investment by Irish Water, including in respect of communities such as Coachford, County Cork. I know that part of the world quite well. The Deputy is correct when he says that it is beautiful.

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of water service planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. The primary function of Irish Water is to provide clean, safe drinking water to customers and to treat and return wastewater safely to the environment. Irish Water, as a single national utility, is taking a strategic nationwide approach to asset planning and investment.

The first ever water services policy statement, prepared in line with the Water Services Acts, which the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, launched last month, outlines a clear direction for strategic planning and decision-making on water and wastewater services in Ireland. It identified key policy objectives and priorities for the delivery of water and wastewater services in Ireland over the period up to 2025. The water services policy statement sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of quality, conservation and future-proofing. It provides the context within which necessary funding and investment plans by Irish Water will be framed and agreed.

On foot of this water services policy statement, Irish Water's forthcoming strategic funding plan will set out the costs of providing domestic and non-domestic waters services and the recovery of these costs. Subject to the Minister's approval of the strategic funding plan, it will feed into the allowed revenue determination for Irish Water by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, as the economic regulator of Irish Water, and will ultimately feed into future annual estimates and the budgetary process.

Irish Water's next investment plan, for the five-year period from 2020 to 2024, will set out the financial plan for capital investments to support its strategic objectives as set out in the water services strategic plan and the forthcoming strategic funding plan to deliver improvements to water services throughout Ireland where they are needed most. Irish Water's water services strategic plan, published in October 2015, sets out a high-level strategy for the next 25 years to ensure the provision of clean, safe drinking water, effective management of wastewater, environmental protection, and support for economic and social development. Irish Water will also take account of developing subsidiary programmes within its investment plan to assist in implementing the national planning framework and the national development plan such as those aimed at addressing the needs of smaller communities. Irish Water will work with each local authority to develop these programmes further for inclusion in future funding requirements.

As the Deputy mentioned, in partnership with Cork County Council, Irish Water is currently prioritising a wastewater and sewerage scheme for Coachford, County Cork as part of a wider project that will also involve upgrading infrastructure in Dripsey, Innishannon and Ballyvourney-Ballymakeera. The upgrade will be delivered under a single contract as part of what Irish Water is calling the Cork mid-west sewerage schemes. Upon completion, each of the newly upgraded wastewater treatment plants and associated sewer network will improve treatment, quality and capacity and ensure compliance with the urban wastewater treatment directive and Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, wastewater discharge licensing. Consultations on each location are ongoing, with all landowners on the proposed schemes identified.

I understand from Irish Water that the procurement process for the construction contract is under way. Irish water aims to be in a position to award the construction contract in the first half of 2019. In addition to ongoing negotiations with landowners, Irish Water has undertaken engagement with local elected representatives both in person and via the local representative support desk, and will continue to engage and update on the progress of the project when new information becomes available. In addition, Irish Water representatives have met local community associations and interest groups. This engagement will continue throughout the period of the project.

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