Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Photo of Danny Healy-RaeDanny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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253. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the take-over of group water schemes by Irish Water and given that his Department has apparently been discussing this for more than two years but no scheme has been taken over, even though hundreds of schemes have applied to be taken over during this time. [11803/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. Under the legislation, Irish Water now has the powers previously held by local authorities in relation to the takeover of Group Water Schemes. This means that Irish Water may acquire by agreement a waterworks or waste water works, subject generally to not fewer than two thirds of those entitled to dispose of it (typically the members of a group water scheme), giving their consent. It is open, therefore, to group water schemes to contact Irish Water if they wish to have their schemes considered for take over.

During 2015, my Department established a working group involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector to address the development of the sector within the overall water reform programme to ensure that the programme responds effectively to current and future needs. Local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and my Department are represented on the working group. One of the tasks of the group is to ensure that there is appropriate integration of the Department's Rural Water Programme and Irish Water's Capital Investment Programme so as to fully support rural development and address any environmental issues that may arise.

The working group is also considering a number of areas where there are potential boundary issues with Irish Water or legacy issues which need to be addressed and new approaches in this area will be informed by a number of demonstration projects or pilot schemes. A number of pilot projects relating to the takeover of group water schemes have been undertaken as pathfinders to identify and standardise the processes and documentation required at each step of the taking in charge process. The information and experience gained has fed into an overall governance framework which is to be utilised by Irish Water and relevant local authorities on all future schemes to be taken in charge.

In January 2016, my Department wrote to local authorities advising them of a new multi-annual approach to the funding of group water schemes for 2016 and beyond under the rural water programme. 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 .

My Department is currently considering local authorities' bids for funding and allocations to authorities under the new programme will be provided shortly.

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