Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason that the proposed Cooraclare sewerage scheme did not proceed in 2006, as promised (details supplied); the way that this funding was re-allocated; if there are current plans to advance the scheme at Cooraclare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63102/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the scheme in question was included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. The Programme at that time was directly funded by my Department. In 2009, a request was sent to local authorities, including Clare County Council, to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. I understand that the scheme in question was not among the priority schemes selected for inclusion by Clare County Council in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012.

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. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects, including the plant referred to, is a matter for Irish Water, and is approved through its own internal governance structures.

The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 provides clear direction to strategic planning and decision making on water and waste water services in Ireland. The Policy Statement sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across three thematic objective areas of Quality, Conservation and Future Proofing, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans.

Taking account of the Water Services Policy Statement, Irish Water delivers its services in accordance with its statutory Water Services Strategic Plan 2015-2040, which sets out a high-level strategy over 25 years to ensure the provision of clean safe drinking water, effective management of waste water, environmental protection and support for economic and social development.

The Programme for Government commits to funding Irish Water's capital investment plan for water infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 commits to almost €6 billion capital investment by Irish Water in the period 2021-2025, of which over €4.5 billion will be Voted Exchequer funding in respect of domestic water services.

In Budget 2022, I secured over €1.57 billion to support water services. This includes €1.459 billion for domestic water services provision by Irish Water. The investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and waste water services, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.

The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan.  Complementary to that Programme, my Department is also currently examining waste water requirements in the context of villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure. I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at a national level.  This process is at an advanced stage, and I will be in a position to consider the matter once I have received the final report.

In addition, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives.  The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.