Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

145. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action his Department intends taking in respect of approximately 500 standalone sewage treatment plants, which were erected to facilitate the development of housing estates over fifteen years ago and which currently do not meet current environmental standards, and as a result have not been taken in charge by Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3673/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I assume that the Question refers to housing estates that are dependent on developer provided water services infrastructure for the provision of their water services.

I can confirm that funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, to address legacy water services issues including the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI) which is run by my Department.

The DPI programme is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network and are not in the charge of local authorities but rely instead on infrastructure provided by developers. The DPI programme provides funding for the progressive resolution of the issues involved.

The focus of the first tranches of funding is on estates where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. Additionally, a study completed by Uisce Éireann in 2022, will inform and assist in developing further solutions for estates that, due to distance, it is not viable to connect them to the public network.

Although it will take a number of funding programmes, my Department and I are committed to fully resolving all DPI issues.