Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for the augmentation of domestic drinking water supply, particularly storage, purification systems and networks; his further plans to address these issues in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16272/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Earlier this week, I published a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure to be undertaken under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

On water supply projects alone, it details just over 49 contracts currently in progress with a value of €390 million and 101 contracts to be progressed to construction over the period 2010 – 2012 with a value of about €500 million. A further 66 water supply schemes are listed for work to be undertaken on the earlier planning stages of those schemes. A significant proportion of this investment is targeted at contracts and schemes which will improve water quality, particularly where the risks to the supply have been identified by the EPA. Provision is also made for a number of contracts and schemes which are designed to sustain and enhance existing capacity.

In addition, the investment programme places a high priority on water conservation. Investment to date in this area has largely focused on putting in place water management systems to allow for active leakage control and better planning of mains rehabilitation. This investment thus provides the platform for more intensive investment in mains rehabilitation. The new Programme provides for the commencement of such contracts with a value of some €320 million over the next three years.

Substantial funding of €415m is being provided by the Exchequer to advance major water and waste water schemes in 2010, in addition to investment of €93m under the Rural Water Programme. Against the current economic backdrop, this level of investment, which will mean that average spending on water services over the period 2009 and 2010 will be up 3% on the 2008 outturn, continues to reflect the priority assigned by Government to providing critical water services infrastructure.