Michael Brennan (Fianna Fail)

I join in welcoming Deputy Noel Ahern, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I congratulate the Minister on yesterday's announcement of record non-national roads grants. The finger cannot be pointed at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for failing to keep its promises.

In welcoming the Bill, it should be noted that legislation has served the country well down through the years, for example in assisting local authorities to work with communities to set up group water schemes. The provision of water services is a key responsibility for local authorities. Water services are the only utility provided directly by local authorities. The days are long gone when we could afford to be carefree about the source for the supply of drinking water and not worry about the effects of dumping our waste water in rivers, lakes and seas. We are investing more than €4 billion in water services up to 2006, which will be rapidly transformed by high cost state-of-the-art technology particularly in waste water treatment. A large part of the investment is necessary to ensure compliance with the EU urban water waste treatment directive. The Government is going further in providing treatment plants for towns with populations of 1,000 people and lower. I compliment the local authorities on adopting county development plans and setting up investment programmes for the moneys generated from the development levies. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will also make separate funding available for facilities in smaller towns and villages, which they previously could not have expected to have for 20 years. The Department's pilot conservation grants scheme has ensured greater operational efficiency with the loss of water from leakages being halved. It is good to see local authorities using schemes to such effect.

On the question of way-leaves, local authorities could serve a 14 day notice in order to repair water pipes, but it would now appear that way-leaves may come under the planning legislation. Will this have an effect on local authorities carrying out repair works? Will the practice of waste water going into the sewerage system be tackled under the provisions of this Bill? A licence will be required to discharge into a sewage scheme but that was a problem for local authorities in the past

I pay tribute to those who have worked with local authorities to establish group water schemes. The strategic policy committees have worked with local authorities. This legislation represents a common sense approach, where local authorities through the strategic policy committees and the group water schemes can tackle the identified problems. I have no doubt that with the available funding the Minister will achieve his goal in the five year period and beyond.