Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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673. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the consideration that has been given by Irish Water to identify and prioritise capital investment requirements for settlements that align with the sustainable transports links such as rail networks to support proportional and sustainable growth in areas in order to mitigate against transport related climate change effects. [31287/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Under Section 33 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, Irish Water is required to prepare a Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP). In preparing a WSSP Irish Water must consult with the Commission for Energy Regulation, the EPA, local authorities and each regional body.

The Act also provides that when preparing the WSSP Irish Water must ensure, as far as practicable, that it is consistent with the National Spatial Strategy, regional planning guidelines and river basin management plans. The WSSP must also have regard to proper planning and sustainable development, housing strategies, special amenity orders, strategic development zones, water quality management plans, waste management plans and such other matters as the Minster may direct.

In October 2015, the then Minister for the Environment, Community and local Government approved Irish Water’s 25-year WSSP which sets out the challenges affecting the provision of public water services in Ireland and identifies the priorities to be tackled in the short and medium terms. A copy of the plan in available in the Oireachtas Library. The plan takes a long-term view of water services investment needs at a national level, and provides an opportunity to ensure that investment is strategically targeted towards priority needs.

The Act also requires that the WSSP is subject to review at least every 5 years.