Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the development of a water services programme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30681/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The overall objectives for investment in water services are to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme. The Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 is available in the Oireachtas Library. This programme is complemented by funding for group water schemes and small public water and wastewater schemes under the Rural Water Programme. A total of €435 million in Exchequer capital resources has been made available for these programmes in 2011.

The resources available for these programmes in 2012 will be determined as part of the review of capital expenditure currently underway and the estimates and budgetary processes. In order to create efficiencies, improve service delivery and achieve cost savings in the delivery of water services, the Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure. The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the EU/IMF commits Ireland to undertaking an independent assessment of the establishment of such an authority.

Work on the independent assessment is under way. The assessment will examine the optimal organisational structures for Irish Water, including its proposed powers and responsibilities, and will consider in detail the legal, financial and organisational structures together with an implementation plan. This plan will take account of the need to ensure that this critical public service is delivered efficiently during the transition and that there is no loss of momentum in the delivery of key projects. It is intended that the outcome of the assessment will be considered by Government together with proposals for the establishment of Irish Water before the end of 2011.