National Federation of Group Water Schemes

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

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

3. European Court of JusticeFindings • 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 reflect binding character of the Directive in relation to Group Schemes.

4. 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.

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

6. PENALTIES • 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 penalty (daily fines) • amount of both

7. GROUP WATER SCHEMES Private Source = 729 Households = 89,570 • > 10 m3 ( 50 persons) • Commercial or public activity

8. GROUP WATER SCHEMES - 729Types of Supply Schemes Households PWS : 54 11,127 Public GWS : 91 7,669 Private GWS : 584 70,774 Total 729 89,570

9. GROUP WATER SCHEMES - 729 Schemes Households Annex 14 453 65,670 Addtl since Annex 14 276 23,900 Total 729 89,570

10. Compliance – T Coli. Schemes Yes No 729(All) 381 52% 348 48% • (Private) 263 45% 321 55% - 352 (An. 14) 141 40% 211 60% - 232 ( Addtl.) 122 53% 110 47%

11. 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%

25. RWP 2006 – Financial Progress

27. Rural Water Programme 2006 Allocated Drawn €M €M %DBO : 33.90 16.72 49.3 Adv. DBO 32.28 3.44 10.7Connect Public mains 7.43 1.52 20.5Takeover 16.02 3.64 22.7New & Upgrade 23.54 9.86 41.9Small Schemes 19.83 6.95 35.0Total 133.00 42.13 31.7No claims from 6 Councils (Sept. 13)

28. Projected Drawdown - 2006 • Underspend 16.1m approx • Overspend 16.4m “

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

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

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

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