Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----and at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

This scrutiny is in addition to the various forms of accountability that Irish Water is subject to including the submission of an annual report on the performance of its functions to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government; the laying before the Oireachtas of the company's annual report and accounts; approval by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government of a 25 year water services strategic plan; and the power of direction, held by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, towards Irish Water in relation to the performance of its functions.

Last year's Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 also requires Irish Water to consult with the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and each local authority and regional body before submitting the 25 year strategic plan, and on capital plans, to consult with the EPA, regional authorities and planning authorities for which the plan is relevant.

Irish Water has responded to 4,700 individual queries from elected representatives on a range of issues since its specific e-mail facilities were put in place. However, I know that Members are dissatisfied with the effectiveness of the current arrangement and I have been engaged with Irish Water to ensure that a more comprehensive, responsive system is put in place, given the overall extent of queries. New arrangements in this regard will be communicated to Members in a week or so.

These important safeguards on accountability and consultation with elected representatives and State agencies reflect a new water services framework that is designed to remain in public ownership. I want to be perfectly clear on this issue - Irish Water will always remain in public ownership. The Government stated this at the start of its water reforms, it has stated it throughout the reform programme and it has demonstrated it through enshrining it in law. The law of this land does not allow Irish Water to be privatised.

While I welcome the chance to debate the details of water charges and aspects of Irish Water's operations, it is disappointing that the Opposition has not sought to articulate any vision for where it would like to see water services in the future, through its budget submission, for example.

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