Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the most up to date estimate of the percentage of our public water supply that is unaccounted for water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9515/10]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to address the issue of leaking mains and leakage from pipes to ensure a reduction in the amount of unaccounted for water in our public water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9513/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 40 together.

The most recent figures for unaccounted water for each county and city council are set out in the Report Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2008 published last November by the Local Government Management Services Board. A copy is available in the Oireachtas Library. The report highlighted unaccounted for water losses ranging from 16.8% to 58.6%, depending on the local authority involved. This level of water loss is unsustainable and indicates the clear need for local authorities to take more concerted action to tackle the problem.

Over the past seven years, some €130 million has been spent on water conservation measures under a specific sub-programme of the Water Services Investment Programme. This sub-programme, which includes the management of water supply systems, active leakage control and mains rehabilitation, has led to reductions in unaccounted for water, improved knowledge of the condition of water distribution networks and consumption patterns and an improvement in the level and quality of supply to consumers.

My Department is currently finalising a review of the water services investment programme. The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012, which I will be publishing shortly, will build on existing investment in water conservation by providing for a very substantial scaling up of activity on mains rehabilitation.