Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The debate we have had highlights why we need a national water utility which can meet the needs and demands of society. Deputies on both sides of the House have stated learly where investment is needed. The difference between this side of the House and the Opposition is that the Government has to set out its model of funding, structure and, more importantly, from where the funding will come. It is somewhat hypocritical for Deputies to tell the House that we need to invest in A, B and C around the country without telling us from where the funding will come.

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 allows for the transfer of property from a water services authority to Irish Water by way of ministerial order. Where such property transfers occur, rights or liabilities related to that property also transfer to Irish Water. With regard to development levies collected by a local authority transferred to Irish Water, most will continue to be utilised for the purposes for which they were collected.

Following the establishment of Irish Water, with effect from 1 January 2014, planning authorities were requested to operate revised procedures for the application of development contribution levies. In the case of planning permissions granted prior to 1 January 2014, they were advised that the full development contribution charge, where such was attached as a condition of planning permission, including, where relevant, the portion in respect of water services infrastructure, should be paid to the planning authority in accordance with the terms of the planning permission granted.

In the case of planning permissions granted after 1 January 2014, planning authorities were advised that, when granting planning permission, they should no longer include a portion in respect of water services infrastructure in any development contribution applied and that such charges would instead be levied by Irish Water. They were further advised that new development schemes made after that date should not contain charges in respect of water services infrastructure.

Deputies will agree that we have a very complex and varied connection system for water around the country. One local authority applies one connection charge, but the charge applied by another can be quite different. This is no different from any national utility where we need to develop consistency in standards, costs and quality. That is why, fundamentally, we need Irish Water. It already happens in the case of the electricity network, as I have outlined, where the ESB outlines its proposals for connection policies every so often. They are scrutinised and analysed by an independent regulatory body which examines their cost, impact and how they can serve the customer. It then signs off on the connection charge. The ESB developed standard connection charges over a decade ago. It is a fairer system and creates transparency and consistency across the board. Irish Water will be required, in a similar manner to other utilities, to provide a customer charter which will assure the customer the standards and quality to which he or she is entitled. It is the responsibility of the independent regulator to have oversight of that process.

Deputy Michael P. Kitt referred to comparisons and how Irish Water's establishment, operational, capital and structural costs compared. The CER has closely examined and analysed the structure of Irish Water and all that goes with it and found it to be very efficient in comparison to that of similar utilities in Wales, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. These documents were presented at a joint committee meeting, at which CER representatives were available for full questioning on any of these matters. I ask any Deputy or member of the public to browse the CER's website, on which a large amount of detailed documents are published for all to see and which provide for full transparency on the structure of Irish Water.

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