Written answers

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Water Services

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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239. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when an updated memorandum of understanding between Irish Water and each local authority relating to the taking-in-charge of residential developments, standalone infrastructure, water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants which are excluded from the taking in charge process will be issued (details supplied); when such infrastructure will be included in the taking in charge process; when an agreement will be put in place between local authorities and Irish water in relation to the transfer of this type of infrastructure to enable local authorities to proceed with the taking in charge of estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58489/21]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure (DPI) in housing estates.

Housing estates which are not taken-in-charge by local authorities and do not have their water services connected to the public network rely instead on DPI which was provided by the estate developers. The Memorandum of Understanding between Irish Water and local authorities, as referenced in the question, is intended only to address the arrangements necessary for taking in charge of estates which are connected to the public (Irish Water) network. It does not address housing estates which rely on DPI which are a legacy issue.

In terms of reliance on DPI, experience has shown that this infrastructure is often temporary and is not properly maintained. This can lead to environmental and public health risk. Policy in the past had allowed for DPI as an interim solution which would become redundant or partly redundant when a public scheme was constructed.

My Department is currently operating a multi-annual capital investment programme to provide funding for the progressive resolution of housing estates with legacy DPI. However, significant challenges exist in realising solutions for all these problem areas.

On 21 September 2020, I announced allocations under the new multi-annual capital investment programme - the Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021 - for the progressive resolution of DPI, to enable the taking in charge of these estates.

The focus of the first multi-annual programme is on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. The programme will also support a number of pilot projects where connection is not feasible in the immediate future. These pilot projects, together with a major study currently being undertaken by Irish Water due for completion in Q2 2022 will inform future policy considerations on resolving sub-standard developer provided infrastructure with sustainable solutions.

Under the approvals in September 2020, local authorities were also asked to examine further estates requiring funding for resolution within their functional areas. Arising from this process, valid bids for estates were received from a number of local authorities. I am awaiting a report from the Expert Panel following their evaluation of these further estates and the pilot projects to be submitted to me early 2022.

The issue of updating the Memorandum of Understanding would be a matter for the parties concerned. However, the sustainable resolution of the infrastructure referred to needs to be dealt with before it can be handed over to Irish Water in the manner set out in the reply.

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