Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his short, medium and long-term plans for the provision of an adequate drinking water supply throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37606/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which he has provided or intends to provide adequate drinking water treatment and storage facilities to meet the requirements of the entire population in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37609/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 445 together.

Continued high levels of funding in recent years for the Water Services Investment Programme and Rural Water Programme demonstrate the Government's ongoing commitment to the sector. Investment in the period 2000 – 2009 has seen an increase in water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 1.1 million and an increase in storage capacity equivalent to1.6 million over the same period.

My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, which is available in the Oireachtas library, sets out the plans for investment in major water supply projects, including increased treatment and storage capacity where appropriate, in order to meet key environmental and economic objectives over that period. Including water conservation works, the Programme's water supply component comprises 72 projects in progress with a value of about €524 million, some 182 contracts to be progressed to construction over the period 2010 – 2012 with a value of €828 million and some 100 schemes on which planning work will continue.

Investment in water supply facilities under the Water Services Investment Programme is complemented by investment annually under the Rural Water Programme - a largely devolved programme of investment on relatively smaller water services schemes and the group water sector.