Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No Exchequer funding was provided to Bord Gáis or Irish Water in 2012 or 2013 for the establishment costs of Irish Water. In 2014 Irish Water, which now has statutory responsibility for water services, will receive €240 million in equity from the Minister for Finance and €490 million from the Local Government Fund but no other funding from the Department’s Vote for establishment or other costs.

My Department has provided funding towards the costs of implementing the water sector reform programme. These costs amount to €15.7 million during the period 2012 to 2013. The majority of this expenditure related to funding provided to local authorities to meet the costs of the pre-installation survey required as part of the domestic metering programme and the staffing costs of the water services transition office, which was put in place to ensure appropriate arrangements for engagement with the local authority sector during the reform process. It is estimated that my Department will provide some €2 million during 2014 in respect of my Department’s programme management costs and the cost of the water services transition office. I also expect that some €5 million will be recouped to local authorities in connection with road opening licence work associated with the national domestic metering programme. I remind the Deputy that Irish Water is currently preparing a business plan which will include its capital investment programme, conservation plan and operational costs for 2014 and 2015.

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