Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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335. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason the report commissioned by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities of the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project due to be finalised in late 2019 has not been finished; if the report has been finished, the reason it has not been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4416/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Water Services Act 2013 requires the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to provide consent for all commitments for capital expenditure above a certain threshold.

Given the scale and the strategic importance of ensuring there are reliable and resilient water supplies in the Eastern and Midlands region, and recognising the statutory role of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as independent economic regulator of Irish Water, including its role of reviewing Irish Water’s capital investment plans, the CRU was tasked in 2018 to undertake the review to support any future decision in relation to capital expenditure consents that will be required in the event that planning approval is obtained for the project.

This review has commenced but has not progressed as quickly as originally expected. The CRU timetable for this project is taking into account the progress and output of Irish Water's National Water Resources Plan, which is currently under development. The CRU has recently sent an update to my Department in this regard. It will also be an important input in the context of the updated Public Spending Code for evaluating, planning and managing the public investment in the project as it proceeds through its lifecycle.

The Terms of Reference for the review are available on the CRU website at the following link:www.cru.ie/document_group/water-supply-project-eastern-and-midlands-region/.