Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has put in place or will introduce to ensure an adequate domestic drinking water supply throughout the country; the extent to which it is intended to provide additional storage capacity; the date by which it is intended to meet such targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14427/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which he has received correspondence or submissions from the various local authorities in connection with the short, medium and long-term provision of adequate supplies of domestic drinking water; if he has received any consultancy report with a view to prioritisation of schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14698/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the current daily usage of domestic drinking water; the available storage capacity; the extent to which he and his Department have evaluated requirements in this regard in the future; his plans to address these issues in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14700/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to meet in full the capital costs associated with the upgrading of the various water treatment plants throughout the country in respect of which he has received submissions or correspondence from the various local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14703/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he or his Department has received submissions from Kildare County Council or the other local authorities within the country in regard to the current and future domestic water supply; the extent to which he has to date met or plans to meet such requirements; the time-scale for the provision of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14711/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 413, 415, 421 and 422 together.

The management of public drinking water supplies, including the assessment of requirements and monitoring of demand and storage capacity, is the responsibility of the local water services authorities, which have a range of instruments and measures available to deal with water supply needs. In addition, my Department finances and manages the Water Services Investment Programme through which schemes for improving water supply infrastructure, active leakage control, telemetry and rehabilitation of water mains are undertaken. Copies of the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 are available in the Oireachtas Library.

The schemes included in the Investment Programme are derived mainly from regular assessments of needs undertaken, at my Department's request, by local authorities, including Kildare County Council, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting water supply requirements. My Department does not engage consultants to determine the priority of schemes in the Programme. The Water Services Act, 2007, provides for preparation of a strategic water services plan by each water services authority for its area at least every 6 years. Such plans will set out current and projected water services needs and identify the required responses. This process will ensure that water services planning is appropriately integrated with planning for investment in social and economic development. The relevant provisions will be brought into force as soon as related guidelines and training are available. I am satisfied that the policies and resources that are in place will ensure that our water supply infrastructure will be able to meet current and anticipated demands.

While centralised data on drinking water storage capacity are not available to my Department, details of drinking water treatment plant output are contained in the Environmental Protection Agency's publication "The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water — A Report for the Years 2007-2007" which is also in the Oireachtas Library.