Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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763. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the aggregate known cost, or estimated cost, to public funds, of providing the public water supply in each of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34494/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Annual Finance Statement of each local authority provides an analysis of their current and capital expenditure, including all water services provided by them, in addition to expenditure on the group water sector, private installations and public conveniences. As part of the programme to establish Irish Water, a detailed fact finding exercise is underway which will determine the public water services operational cost base to transfer to Irish Water from 2014.

Based on local authority budgets for 2012 and 2013, the estimated overall operational cost of public water services is some €680m per annum.

In relation to capital expenditure, overall water services capital expenditure in 2012 is estimated at €394m, covering public water services, public waste water services and non-public water services such the group water sector. The Exchequer allocation for 2013 is €326m, with a further €82m expected to be invested by local authorities from their own resources.

The level of public funds to be provided to Irish Water for public water supply in 2014 will be determined as part of the budgetary process.