Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for his comments and his commitment to resolving these legacy issues with facilities built by developers to provide water services in housing estates. I acknowledge the hard work and the efforts of the engineers listed by the Deputy.

The Minister introduced the multi-annual developer-provided water services infrastructure resolution programme to provide funding towards the progressive resolution of these issues. The Deputy is correct that Uisce Éireann does have a role to play when it comes to the connection of water services but there is a role and responsibility for local authorities here too. Funding is available under the multi-annual programme to assist in resolving DPI issues in the Old Killarney Village and the Birch Hill estates. A total of €900,000 plus has already been provided to resolve this issue for these two estates. That is 75% of the cost. That is what the Department will be providing. The funding arrangements made available under the programme are for co-funding. This is what the Department co-funds with the local authority to support the local authority in its obligations with regard to the taking in charge of residential estates. The 25% does fall to the local authority.

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