Written answers

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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859. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to detail all North-South planning, investment and development that currently exists or is planned for regarding water and waste water facilities. [46913/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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There is good on-going north-south cooperation regarding implementation of the Water Framework Directive. In the context of the development of second cycle River Basin Management Plans in Ireland it is intended that there will be a single national River Basin District (RBD) for the second cycle (resulting from a merger of the Eastern, South Eastern, South Western, Western and Shannon River Basin Districts) and that also a single administrative area will be established for the purpose of coordinating water management with authorities in Northern Ireland for the North Western and Neagh Bann International RBDs. The technical analysis and planning tasks are being advanced on the basis of the appropriate water or catchment management units as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Both jurisdictions are also keen to assist the further development of River Trusts and to continue to build on the success of on-going and previous initiatives to assist River Trusts in cross border areas.

In relation to public water and wastewater services, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels for public water services including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure.

I understand that Irish Water is participating in a joint application with Northern Ireland Water for funding for cross-border initiatives covering water and wastewater services under the EU's Interreg programme. The funding of such proposals is a matter in the first instance for Irish Water. Two joint applications are being developed, one water resources project which will address micro-pollutant in cross-border drinking water catchments and one addressing wastewater compliance towards achieving the Water Framework Directive objectives for Lough Foyle. Both proposals are in the application phase at this stage.

For further information on this matter and other aspects of capital investment, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

As regards rural water, my Department's rural water investment programme supports the delivery of quality water services in rural communities. The selection and prioritisation of group water and sewerage schemes is a matter in the first instance for local authorities.

Earlier this month, my Department wrote to local authorities advising them of the new approach to the funding of group water and sewerage schemes for 2016 and beyond. This will ultimately lead to the development of appropriate prioritised lists of schemes for funding and a series of demonstration projects which will assist in further evolving the programme of investment. Details of the new multi-annual programme are available on my Department’s website at .

It is now a matter for local authorities to decide on the prioritised list of group water and sewerage schemes to be funded in their respective areas and to submit their funding applications for the period 2016 to 2018 to my Department by 29 January 2016. Allocations for funding under the new multi-annual programme will be provided to local authorities in due course and following consideration of authorities' bids for funding.

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