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For Oral Answer on : 05/05/2021
Question Number(s): 33 Question Reference(s): 22861/21
Department: Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 760 of 21 April 2021, the amount of Departmental funding drawn down by Irish Water to date in 2021; his expectations for the drawing down of further funding by Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for determination by Irish Water.
As part of Budget 2021, funding of over €1.4 billion was secured to support water services. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
Over €1.3 billion in Voted Exchequer funding is to be provided to Irish Water in respect of domestic water services provision in 2021, of which €692 million is capital funding and €614m is current funding. By the end of April 2021 Irish Water has drawn down €223.25 million, of which €153.5 million relates to current funding and €69.75 million relates to capital funding.
I expect that Irish Water will drawn down this full provision in 2021 to continue its investment to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat and return waste water to the environment.