Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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712. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the necessary funding will be made available to Irish Water, approximately €2 million, in order to progress the Ballina wastewater treatment plant in County Tipperary through detailed design and awarding of the contract in parallel to the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18943/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.

Irish Water is currently funded through a combination of government revenue subvention and capital contributions in respect of domestic water services, non-domestic revenue including new connection revenue and non-domestic borrowings.

As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.

The prioritisation and progression of individual projects, including the one referred to in the question, is a matter for determination by Irish Water within this overall funding regime.

It may be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at Oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.