Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress to date in his negotiations with the local authorities and Irish Water on the takeover of estates where there are problems with pumping stations and treatment plants and where the developer is no longer in business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4516/16]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department, as part of a wider overhaul of the taking in charge process, has sought to determine the number of residential developments with developer-provided stand-alone wastewater treatment plants and/or water treatment systems which are not connected to public water or waste water networks. Many of the developments in question have not yet been taken in charge by the relevant local authority because they are unfinished. In some cases the developments may be completed but not to the standards required under the planning permissions granted.

I announced today a new national initiative and pilot scheme funding of €10m to speed up the taking in charge process of residential developments, including those with developer-provided water services infrastructure, across the country through demonstration projects to improve co-ordination between local authorities, Irish Water and other stakeholders, address infrastructural deficits and bring in additional funding from bonds and other sources. My Department will be briefing local authorities on the initiative in order that funds will be drawn down in 2016. Further details will be available on my Department’s website, , shortly.