Water Services National Training Group and National Federation of Group Water Schemes 7 th Annual Rural Water Services Conference 18 th September 2008

7 th Annual Rural Water Services Conference Rural Water Investment Programme 2008 Progress Report Carthage Cusack Dept of Environment, Heritage & Local Government

GROUP WATER SCHEMES Private Source = 728 Households = 88,300 > 10 m 3 ( 50 persons) > 10 m 3 ( 50 persons) Commercial or public activity Commercial or public activity

GROUP WATER SCHEMES SchemesHouseholds SchemesHouseholds Annex ,400 Addtl since Annex ,900 Total72888,300

Compliance – Ecoli. Schemes Yes No 728(All) % % DCs 88,344 82, % 5, % 88,344 82, % 5, %

European Court of Justice Findings Ireland failed to fulfil its obligations under the Drinking Water Directive by Ireland failed to fulfil its obligations under the Drinking Water Directive by failure to ensure compliance with the microbiological parameters in certain public and group water schemes. failure to ensure compliance with the microbiological parameters in certain public and group water schemes. Article 228(1) of the Treaty establishing the EC Article 228(1) of the Treaty establishing the EC if the ECJ finds that a Member State has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Treaty, the State is required to take the necessary measures to comply with the judgement of the Court. if the ECJ finds that a Member State has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Treaty, the State is required to take the necessary measures to comply with the judgement of the Court.

The commission issued Reasoned Opinion under (Article 228 of the Treaty) in relation to the case on 21 st March, Article 228 of the treaty gives the Commission power to act against a Member State that does not comply with a previous judgement of the European Court of Justice. The article also allows the Commission to ask the Court to impose a financial penalty on the Member State concerned.

PENALTIES European Commission may refer a case to the ECJ and specify the level of sanction / penalty to be imposed, including European Commission may refer a case to the ECJ and specify the level of sanction / penalty to be imposed, including amount of lump sum amount of lump sum amount of penalty (daily fines) amount of penalty (daily fines) amount of both amount of both

Completion of DBO Projects Bundled Projects 3 Bundled Projects Galway No2, Mayo No2 & Roscommon Galway No2, Mayo No2 & Roscommon 82 Group Schemes 4 Public Supplies 82 Group Schemes 4 Public Supplies 9,800 DCs on groups 9,800 DCs on groups

Rural Water Programme Progress 2008 Subsidy Review Completed Subsidy Review Completed Strand A: Strand A: Subsidy towards the general operational and management costs of all Group Water Schemes. €70.00 per annum for each house supplied from a local authority source; € per annum for each house supplied from a private source.

Strand B: Subsidy towards the costs of “bona fide” Operational & Maintenance (O&M) /Design Build Operate (DBO) contracts. The amount recoupable under this strand of subsidy will cover the Fixed Charge applicable to the provision of services to domestic consumers on group water schemes operating under bona fide DBO / O&M contracts. This strand of subsidy will also meet the Volumetric Charge for water supplied for use by domestic consumers only.

Effective Date of implementation - current year. Detailed guidance is being prepared and will issue to Local Authorities in next few weeks

Rural Water Programme Financial Progress

Rural Water Programme 2008 Allocated Drawn €M €M % DBO : Adv. DBO Connect Public mains Takeover New Upgrade Small Schemes EPA (RAL) Total No claims from 6 Councils (Sept. 17)

Changed Recoupment Procedures ( CircL7/08 14 th July 2008) Expenditure only basis Expenditure only basis Claims in excess of €50,000 Claims in excess of €50,000 Allocations non-transferable between measures Allocations non-transferable between measures Additional allocations are unlikely Additional allocations are unlikely Admin Costs - Realistic claims – Admin Costs - Realistic claims – Based on County % of National Activity Based on County % of National Activity Liaison Officers Salaries Liaison Officers Salaries Identify where monies will be un-drawn asap Identify where monies will be un-drawn asap

Water Services National Training Group and National Federation of Group Water Schemes 7 th Annual Rural Water Services Conference 18 th September 2008