Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the proposed scheme between local authorities and Irish Water to provide drinking water fountains nationwide to reduce plastic bottle litter as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9340/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government includes a commitment to 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 for 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 must transpose article 16 of the Directive by 12 January 2023.

To assist with the transposition of the Directive, and the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government, I have convened a Drinking Water Expert Group to provide advice on the appropriate preparations and steps necessary for the successful implementation of the Directive, including article 16, as described above.

I have made provision in my Department’s budget for 2022 to develop a Pilot Scheme on the provision of drinking water fountains in cooperation with local authorities and Irish Water. This Pilot Scheme will provide a basis for further drinking water fountains to be rolled out in coming years.