OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE:THE GOVERNMENT spent almost €1.15 billion on water services and the rural water programme between 2002 and 2007 but gained few improvements, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

The committee was told €553 million was provided for major water schemes, and a further €596 million provided for rural water during that period.

In addition, the current investment was some €500 million per year, the secretary general of the Department of Environment, Geraldine Tallon, told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Ms Tallon said over 500 public supplies were brought into compliance with EU regulations since 2002, and 125 more schemes would be addressed before the end of 2009. Some 83 non-compliant schemes would be addressed in the next year.

Ms Tallon was speaking after Comptroller and Auditor General John Buckley told the committee that while €867 million was spent on improvements to drinking water, few improvements were achieved between 2004 and 2007.

He said it was not until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was given supervisory and enforcement powers over local authorities in 2007 that monitoring and control improved.

However, Galway East TD Padraic McCormack asked why the EPA enforcement powers had not been used against Galway County Council after an outbreak of cryptosporidium in 2007 and “boil water” notices issued to large parts of the city and county.

He was told by Dr Mary Kelly, director general of the EPA, that enforcement powers related to issuing a directive to the local authorities on how to deal with breaches. It could prosecute the council for failure to carry out the direction, but not for pollution.

She said the EPA had initiated prosecution against the council for failure to follow a direction in relation to its Craughwell plant.

Ireland’s investment of €73.7 million in carbon credits was now believed to be sufficient, the committee also heard. The belief was based on the latest ESRI and EPA projections that looked at the downturn and climate change measures.