Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Government’s vision for water services, whether publicly supplied by Uisce Éireann or otherwise delivered under the rural water programme, is set out in the water services policy statement 2018 to 2025. It is based on the delivery and development of water services in line with the needs and expectations of citizens and users, in compliance with legal obligations, in a fair and cost-effective manner and in keeping with the principles of social, economic and environmental sustainability. We continue, as a Government, to upgrade our investment in water services infrastructure, in keeping with our EU drinking water and wastewater services obligations, and in line with population growth and economic development needs in both urban and rural areas.

Factors such as distance and geography mean that connection to the public water system, operated by Uisce Éireann, is unlikely to be a technically feasible or economically viable solution for all households and businesses in the State.

It is precisely because of this viability challenge that the Government necessarily supports a diverse range of measures under the rural water programme to address the water services needs of rural households and communities where connection to the public networks managed by Uisce Éireann is not possible. Some 6% of people have their drinking water supplied by either public or private group schemes. Public group water schemes are group schemes supplied with treated drinking water in bulk by Uisce Éireann, whereas private group water schemes abstract, treat and distribute drinking water to their members. Private group water schemes are generally co-operative groups. There are wonderful groups right around the country. A further 10% of people get their drinking water from private wells.

With regard to wastewater services census data indicates that approximately one third of households rely on individual, group or other waste water treatment arrangements. Apart from the economic cost of connection it should also be clear from the arrangements I have outlined that many of the facilities in place, although supported by significant and growing State investment and support, and rightly so, are not in public ownership. The State approach in such situations is to work as collaboratively and as supportively as possible with the communities involved while respecting local community expectations and co-operative ownership arrangements. It would erroneous to assume that connection to a public water network would be a universal choice adopted by all citizens and communities.

Arrangements for connection of existing group water and waste water schemes to Uisce Éireann are, of course, possible and proactively encouraged where such an arrangement is technically feasible and economically viable. Clearly, however, the Exchequer support provided through the rural water programme will continue to be necessary to deliver improvements to the quality, reliability and efficiency of private water services in areas of rural Ireland where there is no access to piped water services. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Government is strongly committed to fair and balanced development for urban and rural communities alike. Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 presents the Government’s blueprint and policy measures for recovery and development of rural Ireland over the period from 2021 to 2025. The policy document identifies deficits in water and wastewater infrastructure which present a particular challenge to the development of many rural towns and villages and states that this issue needs to be addressed to revitalise rural towns and villages. This matter raised, therefore, is a priority for Government and good progress is being made though the combined efforts of our local authorities working in conjunction with household and businesses at community level, and, where appropriate, Uisce Éireann.

The national development plan includes an allocation of €175 million over the period 2021 to 2025 for investment in rural water infrastructure under the rural water programme. My Department is also currently finalising work on the review of the rural water sector, which is considering issues such as governance, supervision and monitoring, along with the wider investment needs of the sector to be provided for under the ongoing multi-annual rural water programme. The aim of the review is to recommend actions now and into the future to ensure an equality of outcomes for those served by Uisce Éireann or supported under the rural water programme.

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