Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and his thoughtful remarks and analysis, as always. I am dealing with this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The availability of a long-term, reliable, high-quality and economic supply of drinking water is a key requirement for the future development of the Leinster and the greater Dublin area. The Dublin regional water supply area consists of all of Dublin city, Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown along with parts of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath.

The Dublin water supply scheme long-term water source is listed as a scheme at planning stage in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's water services investment programme 2010-2013. Dublin City Council is the lead authority for this scheme on behalf of all of the water services authorities in the greater Dublin area. Studies carried out for the city council and a strategic environmental assessment have identified a preferred option which involves abstraction of raw water from Lough Derg and pumping the abstracted water through a new pipeline to a proposed storage reservoir at Garryhinch cut-away bog in County Offaly, forming part of a proposed midlands water-based eco-park. After treatment, water would then be conveyed to the west of Dublin where the new supply would be integrated with the existing storage and trunk distribution system. Dublin City Council has recently carried out a procurement process and I understand it will shortly be in a position to appoint a consultant to advance the further planning of this scheme.

The programme for project implementation has been developed based on the planning and statutory approval phase taking approximately two years. The detailed design and procurement phase should take a further two years, while the construction and commissioning phase should be completed in three years. Following their appointment by Dublin City Council, the consultants will undertake the environmental impact statement and other statutory requirements in preparation for a submission to An Bord Pleanála which will adjudicate on the matter.

Following the passage of comprehensive legislation later this year, Irish Water will assume responsibility for the delivery of investment in public water services infrastructure from 1 January 2014. The programme of investment for 2014 to 2015 is currently being prepared by Irish Water and the implementation strategy agreed by Government provides for the development of a detailed capital programme transition plan to ensure the smooth transition from the water service investment programme 2010-2013 to the Irish Water 2014-2015 plan. The objective of this plan, currently being developed with programme partners, is to ensure that there is no loss of momentum in capital delivery in respect of projects, be they at construction or in planning.

The Government recently approved the general scheme for the comprehensive legislation and it addresses planning and investment matters, including providing that Irish Water will prepare strategic investment plans addressing a 25-year period. The plans are aimed at addressing the provision of sufficient water services for domestic users as well as business and industry. In the course of preparing the plans, Irish Water will be required to consult with the economic and environmental regulators, the regional assemblies proposed under Putting People First and the local authorities. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government will also be required to approve the plans.

Irish Water will also prepare water services capital investment plans for the purpose of submitting tariff proposals to the economic regulator. The capital investment plans will take account of the provisions set out in the water services strategic plan and will be aligned with the next cycle of river basin management plans required under the EU water framework directive. The plans will have regard to the river basin management plans, local development plans and resources available to the company from Government grants and its own resources. These mechanisms will ensure continued prioritisation of projects of strategic importance currently in planning in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's water services investment programme following the hand-over of the capital programme to Irish Water. The Dublin water supply scheme long term water source is one such scheme. The establishment of a single water utility should allow for a more streamlined approach to the planning and delivery of the capital programme, which should result in important strategic projects being accelerated.