Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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313. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration will be given to providing water fountains in public places in order that the demand for plastic bottled water can be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44869/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government includes a comitment that the Government will develop a scheme between local authorities and Irish Water to provide drinking water fountains nationwide to reduce plastic bottle litter.

In addition, EU Directive 2020/2184 (the Drinking Water Recast Directive) as adopted on 16 December 2020 updates the obligations on Member States in relation to the quality of water intended for human consumption. The objective of this Directive is to protect human health from the adverse effects of any contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is wholesome and clean, and to improve access to water intended human consumption. In order to promote the use of tap water intended for human consumption, article 16 of the Directive requires that Member States shall ensure that outdoor and indoor equipment is set up in public spaces, where technically feasible, in a manner that is proportionate to the need for such measures and taking into account specific local conditions, such as climate and geography. Member States may also take the following measures to promote the use of tap water intended for human consumption:

(a) raising awareness of the nearest outdoor or indoor equipment; 

(b) launching campaigns to inform citizens about the quality of such water; 

(c)  encouraging the provision of such water in public administrations and public buildings; 

(d)  encouraging the provision of such water, for free or for a low service fee, for customers in restaurants, canteens and catering services. 

Member States must transpose article 16 of the Directive by 12 January 2023.

My Department will implement the commitment in the Programme for Government as part of the transposition and implementation of article 16 of Directive 2020/2184, as described above.