Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 910: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he is taking to bring the national water service to 100% compliancy with drinking water standards. [27198/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Management of public drinking water supplies is in the first instance the responsibility of the relevant local authority, which has a range of instruments and measures available to produce and conserve sufficient supplies to meet anticipated needs and to ensure quality standards.

The Government's commitment to improving water services infrastructure to meet the highest international standards is reflected in the very substantially increased funding of some €4.7 billion provided for water services in the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013, an increase of 27% on the previous NDP. Details of currently approved water supply projects are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

In conjunction with the publication of its report "The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland: A Report of the Years 2006-2007", the EPA has listed 339 public water supplies where detailed profiling is required from source to tap to ensure consumers have a reliable supply that is consistently of a satisfactory standard. My Department and the EPA are working in conjunction with local authorities to identify, agree and implement appropriate solutions in these cases.

I have also provided contingency funding of €10m in 2008 for smaller scale upgrading works to schemes included in the EPA list and my Department is currently finalising its examination of local authority applications for funding from this provision. Any major upgrading schemes required have been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme and the Department is also considering proposals from local authorities for advance works that would expedite compliance with security and safety of supply requirements for these schemes. The EPA will oversee implementation of all remedial measures as part of its enhanced supervisory role under the Drinking Water (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, which have strengthened the enforcement provisions in relation to drinking water standards.