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

This is an operational matter and my Department cannot interfere in regulatory processes. Since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels and my Department has no function in relation to this matter, under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. The EPA is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, and is entirely independent of my Department in the exercise of its functions. In addition the Environmental Protection Agency, as the Environmental Regulator, is the key statutory body for investigating complaints of pollution and for the enforcement, both directly and through oversight of Uisce Éireann and local authorities, of environmental legislation in Ireland, including compliance in relation to licensed urban waste water discharges.

My Department's 2024 budget (Vote 34) includes €1.66 billion of funding for Uisce Éireann for the provision of domestic water services. This includes a current expenditure provision of €680 million and capital funding of €983 million.

Uisce Éireann 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 is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. Uisce Éireann 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, 0818 578 578.