Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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229. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the recommendations from the steering group of the project undertaken to identify the extent of problems arising from developer-provided water services infrastructure; the plan, including funding options, in place to address the problems arising from developer-provided water services infrastructure in order to remove impediments to the taking in charge of associated housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2748/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Taking in Charge Initiative (NTICI) for residential estates with a pilot scheme funding of €10 million was announced in April 2016. The aim of the NTICI was to accelerate the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure. Survey data gathered from each of the 31 local authorities were collated in December 2015 and, subsequently, funding was allocated by my Department for a number of developments on the basis of proposals submitted by the local authorities.

The information provided by this survey indicated that, of the 5,566 developments yet to be taken in charge, there are approximately 914 estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure (DPI).

Under the terms of the NTICI, only those developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the call for funding proposals, outlined in Circular FPS3 of April 2016. It was also stipulated that funding for estates with DPI would only apply to developments that could demonstrate sustainable solutions that will also be acceptable to Irish Water and EPA. The valuable knowledge and experience gained under this Initiative will help to inform and direct future taking-in-charge processes.

Seven local authorities were selected from the list with DPI; Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Tipperary and Wexford, as they contained a significant number of housing estates with DPI. In total, 68 developments with DPI were submitted by the seven local authorities for funding and 44 were initially approved.

After assessing the submissions in detail, a final allocation of €1.9 million was distributed across the 7 local authorities to progress works on 31 housing estates with developer provided water services infrastructure to taking in charge standard. Work is still progressing on a number of these pilot projects and upon the completion of these works my Department will prepare a report by the Summer of 2017 on key lessons learned with recommendations, based on the experience gained, to inform and progress future taking-in-charge plans.