Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I dealt comprehensively with this issue on Committee Stage. I accept that it is a fundamental matter of concern to everybody with an interest in the role and functions of local government. I acknowledge Senator McCarthy's concerns in this regard. I assure the House that I am not undermining the role of elected representatives, or excluding them from the process, by providing that the compilation of water services strategy plans will be an executive function. Members will be included in the process. It is a question of pitching their input at an appropriate level.

Water services strategy plans are management and operational plans, in effect, rather than policy plans per se. The primary role of the plans is to outline the level of demand for water services in the functional area of each water services authority. The plans will detail the proposed level of response to the demand. The strategy planning process will be based on a partnership between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the water services authorities. The bodies will ensure that national and local water services agencies are fully synchronised. The relationship between the organisations complements the role of the Minister, who has overall responsibility for supervising the provision of national water services.

The system will help to ensure that plans for adjoining functional areas are properly integrated and that potential synergies and efficiencies are maximised. It will guard against cumulative impacts, which might have an adverse effect on sustainable development and environmental protection in the surrounding region. The Minister will have the final say about what goes into a water services strategy plan. It would not be appropriate, therefore, to involve members of local authorities directly although they will be involved in the process indirectly. As I said earlier, the involvement of members of local authorities in planning for water services will be at a different level. Their input will take place more appropriately at a broader strategic level, in the context of their input into planning and development issues affecting their local areas.

The Bill requires water services authorities to have regard to proper planning and the sustainable development of their areas when they are compiling water services strategy plans. In particular, they must have regard to the relevant county development plans, regional or spatial planning guidelines, housing strategies, special amenity orders and river basin management plans. It is envisaged that consultation will take place at strategic policy committees. It is appropriate to have consultation at that level, in the course of making the plan. It will facilitate co-ordination with strategic policy issues affecting the functional areas of water services authorities. The input that will be pitched at this level will ensure that the strategic overview of councillors is ultimately taken into account in the formulation of water services strategy plans. I am sure county managers will consider the views expressed by members of local authorities when they are preparing the water services strategy plans.

I reiterate that section 36(3), which states that the making of a water services strategy plan is an executive function, simply reflects the practical distinction that exists in many organisations between operational functions and higher level policy development functions. Similarly, one can distinguish between the management team and the board of directors in a large modern company. I stress that I understand the concerns of Senator McCarthy and other Senators. In this instance, it would not be appropriate for the making of a water services strategy plan to be a reserved function. I hope Senator McCarthy will accept the explanation I have given, bearing in mind that members of local authorities will have an indirect input. It is not a question of sidelining members, as they will have an important role to play in county development plans and strategic policy committees.