Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the current daily domestic household water requirement; the requirements for industry; the maximum storage space and time available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4296/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy of domestic water treatment, storage and supply in the future for County Kildare; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4303/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 292 together.

Average domestic water consumption in Ireland is estimated at 250 litres per person per day. The requirements for industry will vary due the nature of the industry. To meet anticipated demand for water for domestic and non-domestic consumption, the national development plan provides for investment of €4.4 billion in water services infrastructure up to the end of 2006. Substantial increases in water treatment and storage capacity are being achieved as a result of this increased investment. Schemes completed since 1997 have produced additional drinking water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 985,000. The increase in storage capacity over the same period was sufficient to meet the requirements of a population of 1,575,000.

In support of the water services activities of local authorities, my Department co-ordinates and finances a major programme of investment in improved infrastructure, active leakage control, telemetry and rehabilitation of water mains. Details of approved proposals for further new and upgraded public water supply schemes for Kildare and other areas are set out in my Department's water services investment programme for 2004-06, which is available in the Oireachtas Library. This programme is largely derived from assessments of needs undertaken every five years by local authorities, at my Department's request, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting additional water supply requirements. The most recent assessment was carried out in 2003.

The planning and resources are in place to ensure that the national water supply infrastructure can cater adequately for current and forecast requirements.