Written answers

Thursday, 27 November 2008

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Water Quality

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which he or his Department have identified deficiencies in the public water supply arising from pollution due to lack of public sewerage facilities or other causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43284/08]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure that the quality of the public water supply throughout the country is up to the highest possible standards and that there is no repetition of the water supply problems experienced in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43285/08]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will give an assurance regarding the adequacy and quality of the public water supply in all areas throughout the country now and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43286/08]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 150, inclusive, together.

It is the responsibility of the relevant local authority to deliver quality public water supplies to meet current and future needs. The quality of individual supplies is monitored by the EPA and its most recent report, The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland — A Report for the Years 2006 and 2007, is available in the Oireachtas Library. I have put in place a rigorous supervisory framework to ensure good quality drinking water is available and that effective mechanisms are in place to deal quickly and effectively with problems where they arise. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, local authority drinking water supplies are subject to supervision by the EPA and I have given the Agency the necessary resources to back up its new enforcement powers.

Under the drinking water regulations, local authorities are obliged to ensure that any failure to meet quality standards in a water supply is investigated immediately to determine the cause. The authority is also obliged to inform the EPA promptly and to consult with the Health Service Executive. Where incidences of contamination occur, the EPA can issue such directions to the local authority as necessary to prevent or remove any health risk. Failure to comply with such a direction is an indictable offence and subject to heavy penalties. In addition, my Department coordinates and finances a major programme of investment in improved water supply infrastructure. €560 million was provided in the Budget for the Water Services Investment Programme in 2009, the highest ever such allocation and an increase of 19% over the 2008. This is a clear statement of the priority assigned to the preservation and protection of our water resources, to meeting EU standards for drinking water and wastewater treatment and to providing critical water and wastewater infrastructure.

The schemes included in the current Water Services Investment Programme are derived mainly from the assessments of needs undertaken by all local authorities, at my Department's request, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting water services infrastructural requirements. Among the criteria local authorities are required to take into account in preparing assessments of needs are compliance with national and EU drinking water standards, including reports produced by the EPA annually in relation to drinking water quality. I am satisfied that the policies and resources in place will ensure that our water supplies are capable of meeting the required quality standards and current and anticipated demands.

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