Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to Kilteel Group Water Scheme (GWS) in the details supplied.

In the interest of public health, Kildare County Council, as the supervisory authority under the Drinking Water Regulations for private water supplies, issued a ‘Do Not Consume Notice‘ to the Kilteel GWS earlier this year. The notice prohibits the use of the water supply for either drinking purposes or for the preparation of food. As this is a private supply, primary responsibility for its resolution rests with the management of the supply.

My Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital funding under a number of measures, including for GWSs, to enable the resolution of infrastructural deficiencies in particular those that are causing or risk causing water quality issues.

The Council have informed my Department that it continues to work with the management of the supply to assist it in addressing its water quality issue. Given the public health concerns my Department have asked the Council to examine and report back on the most appropriate approaches for resolving the issues with the supply by looking at solutions in the short, medium and longer term.

In the short term the Council are examining the options for the supply providing a temporary water supply for its area using a tanker. As a medium term solution my Department has asked the Council to examine the feasibility of providing a supply using an alternative groundwater source. The Council, after obtaining expert advice, will provide my Department with an initial assessment on the feasibility of doing this in the coming weeks.

The more sustainable longer term solution for the supply appears to be its interconnection to the public (Irish Water) network and taking in charge. To progress this the Council, on behalf of the supply, submitted a Connection Application to Irish Water on 04/05/2022. Given the public health concerns with the supply my Department separately requested Irish Water to prioritise the request.

My Department will continue to engage with the Council on the matter of this supply. The Council will be providing my Department with regular updates on progress.