Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group

elation to waste water, and 1.51 million in relation to water. The provision
of this secondary waste water treatment has significant and ongoing cost
implications by comparison to primary or preliminary treatment. The
number of secondary treatment plants serving agglomerations of over 500
population equivalent, has risen from 252 in 1998/99 to 370 in 2007. It is
planned through the current Water Services Investment Programme and
future cycles of investment, to further improve quality of treatment and
capacity for water and waste water services, and this will have
consequences for operational costs. While a portion of these costs will fall
to be met by the non-domestic sector, there is a need to optimise
operational efficiencies to ameliorate the rising cost curve associated with
improved compliance.
10.3.7 The EU Water Framework Directive, adopted in 2000, requires the
management of water quality in Europe to be based on a catchment model.
This model requires a coherent implementation of measures on a consistent
basis within a River Basin District. As is required by the Directive, River
Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) are being put in place for each of the
seven River Basin Districts in Ireland.
10.3.8 While recognising the challenges posed by the current administrative
structure, the Group welcomes the significant progress made in reorientating
the Water Services Investment Programme towards priority
schemes required to address environmental and economic priorities on a
River Basin basis.
10.3.9 Delivery of the River Basin Plans will be challenging as responsibility for
implementation of the plans is assigned across too many organisations and
no single body has ultimate responsibility. Furthermore, the current
administrative systems are fragmented along administrative lines (i.e.
geographically and functionally) and do not facilitate analysis, identification
and implementation of the most cost-effective solution (or measures) to
manage water quality at river basin level.
10.3.10 The Group believes that there are advantages in strengthening the delivery
approach at a regional level for both infrastructure delivery and
implementation of the RBMPs. It is considered that this approach has
potential to:
• Improve efficiencies and co-operation;
• Build and retain appropriate expertise in identified areas which all
water services authorities can avail of;
• Exploit potential economies of scale, and potential for cross-boundary
efficiencies;
• Strengthen the capacity to plan and deliver strategically important
projects, and give a broader strategic context for locally delivered
programmes;
• Minimise duplication of resources and reduce the administrative
burden; and
• Improve service delivery.
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