National Federation of Group Water Schemes Water Services National Training Group 5 th Annual Rural Water Services Conference 13 th September 2006

Rural Water Services Conference Rural Water Investment Programme 2006 Progress Report Carthage Cusack Dept of Environment, Heritage & Local Government

European Court of Justice Findings Ireland failed to fulfil its obligations under the Drinking Water Direstive by Ireland failed to fulfil its obligations under the Drinking Water Direstive 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. failure to reflect binding character of the Directive in relation to Group Schemes. failure to reflect binding character of the Directive in relation to Group 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.

Article 228 letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs states Article 228 letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs states 28% of Group Schemes non-compliant with E-Coli parameters 28% of Group Schemes non-compliant with E-Coli parameters 47% non-compliant with total coliform parameters 47% non-compliant with total coliform parameters Ireland currently non-compliant with ECJ judgement Ireland currently non-compliant with ECJ judgement Ireland failing to fulfil its obligations under Article 228 (1) of the Treaty Ireland failing to fulfil its obligations under Article 228 (1) of the Treaty

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

GROUP WATER SCHEMES Private Source = 729 Households = 89,570 > 10 m 3 ( 50 persons) > 10 m 3 ( 50 persons) Commercial or public activity Commercial or public activity

GROUP WATER SCHEMES Types of Supply Schemes Households Schemes Households PWS : 54 11,127 Public GWS :91 7,669 Private GWS :58470,774 Total 72989,570

GROUP WATER SCHEMES SchemesHouseholds SchemesHouseholds Annex ,670 Addtl since Annex ,900 Total72989,570

Compliance – T Coli. Schemes Yes No 729(All) %348 48% 584 (Private)263 45%321 55% (An. 14)141 40%211 60% ( Addtl.)122 53%110 47%

Compliance – T Coli. Households Yes No 729(All) 49,627 55%39,943 45% 584(Private)32,805 46%37,969 54% -352 (An. 14)23,389 44%29,549 56% -232 (Addtl.) 9,416 53% 8,420 47%

RWP 2006 – Financial Progress

Rural Water Programme 2006 Allocated Drawn €M €M % DBO : Adv. DBO Connect Public mains Takeover New & Upgrade Small Schemes Total No claims from 6 Councils (Sept. 13)

Projected Drawdown Underspend 16.1m approx Underspend 16.1m approx Overspend 16.4m “ Overspend 16.4m “

ECJ Report – follow-up action Compliance measured on T coli. Compliance measured on T coli. Now need to report on E coli. Now need to report on E coli. County lists of schemes given at Seminar 8 June 2006 County lists of schemes given at Seminar 8 June 2006 Check scheme compliance – E Coli. Check scheme compliance – E Coli. Report back to DOEHLG by 22 nd Sept. Report back to DOEHLG by 22 nd Sept. Updated report to Commission 29 th Sept. Updated report to Commission 29 th Sept.

BMW & S & E Regional Assemblies Financial Management - Seminars eligibility, and certification of expenditure eligibility, and certification of expenditure documentation requirements for audit purposes documentation requirements for audit purposes reporting of irregularities reporting of irregularities findings of the spot checks undertaken findings of the spot checks undertaken closure of the 2000 –2006 round of Structural Funds closure of the 2000 –2006 round of Structural Funds

BMW & S & E Regional Assemblies Financial Management - Seminars Certification of ERDF co-financed expenditure Certification of ERDF co-financed expenditure Possibility of loss of funds to Ireland Possibility of loss of funds to Ireland to DOEHLG to DOEHLG to Local Authorities to Local Authorities Attendance of key personnel vital Attendance of key personnel vital dates and venues notified to all dates and venues notified to all

National Federation of Group Water Schemes Water Services National Training Group 5 th Annual Rural Water Services Conference 13 th September 2006