Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps being taken at Department level to bring about improved infrastructure in respect of drinking water supplies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33464/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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€4.7 billion has been provided for my Department's Water Services Investment and Rural Water Programmes in the National Development Plan 2007 — 2013, an increase of 27% on the previous NDP.

The water supply schemes approved for funding under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, (which is available in the Oireachtas Library) are derived from assessments of needs undertaken by local authorities, at my Department's request, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting water supply requirements. Among the criteria local authorities are required to take into account in preparing their needs assessments are compliance with national and EU drinking water treatment requirements and relevant reports produced by the EPA in relation to drinking water standards. Annual block grant allocations by my Department to local authorities under the devolved Rural Water Programme are informed by prioritised work programmes submitted by county councils.

Earlier this year, in conjunction with publication of its report "The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland: A Report of the Years 2006-2007", the EPA listed 339 public water supplies where detailed profiling was required to ensure consumers had a reliable supply of a consistently satisfactory standard. Every major upgrading scheme required has been approved for funding under the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. I have also allocated special funding to local authorities for smaller scale upgrading works to schemes included in the EPA list.

99% of tests of public water supplies are clear of lead, as required under drinking water regulations. However, the EPA can issue such directions to a local authority as are necessary to prevent or remove any health risk. Failure to comply with such a direction is an indictable offence and subject to heavy penalties.

The Drinking Water (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, greatly strengthened the enforcement provisions in relation to drinking water standards. The Regulations provide for the supervision of local authority drinking water supplies by the EPA, and I have provided substantial additional funding and staffing resources to the EPA to increase its monitoring and enforcement capacity in relation to water standards generally.