Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will review the procedures in place for water pricing through metering; if he will provide specific funding to local authorities to address the issue of leakage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21325/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Metering is an essential pre-requisite to the introduction of consumption based water charges for non-domestic users and the proper application of the polluter pays principle as required by the Water Framework Directive. Accordingly, I do not propose to review metering policy and I welcome the fact that the metering programme should be substantially completed by local authorities by the end of this year.

The Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, which I launched on 17 September 2007, incorporates a national water conservation sub-programme under which €288 million is available to local authorities to fund:

(a) management systems to monitor water use and loss in the public supply networks;

(b) targeted leakage control measures, whereby local authorities locate and repair leaking pipes; and

(c) the rehabilitation and replacement of obsolete supply networks, where repair has proven to be uneconomic due to the age/condition of the pipes.

These measures will enable local authorities to reduce unaccounted for water levels in public distribution networks, to improve the quality of supply to consumers, to lower operating costs and to maximize the value of investments in new works. Details of the allocations to individual authorities under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, including the allocations for water conservation works, are available in the Oireachtas Library.