Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for taking this issue. There is considerable work going on in installing meters throughout the State. Unfortunately they are not fixing leaks but digging up footpaths to install meters. The work is causing considerable disruption to parking and traffic management particularly where streets are narrow. Streets are effectively closed for days as a result. People who are carrying out renovations or extensions to their houses are being seriously put out by this as are the contractors working for them, disabled people and people working night shifts. The Minister of State will say that they get a fortnight's notice. There are reports that people are claiming they are not getting notice. I am asking for a month's notice.

On a related issue, the installation of meters is resulting in other disruption. Damage is being caused in certain cases to water infrastructure. When I first raised the issue in February when the installation programme was in its early stages, Dublin City Council alone had spent €136,000 repairing leaks caused by the installation of meters. Who checks the meter for leaks? Have leaks been caused on either side of it? If it is the contractor, in many cases it is clear they have gone away and left the leak there. More importantly, who pays the Bill? At that stage the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government had paid €89,000 of the €136,000 bill. Presumably the city council picked up the remainder of it. However, the Department was very clear that it would no longer foot the bill. While we had been given to understand that Irish Water or the contractor would be responsible, it now appears this is not the case.

In February I estimated that if the level of leaks caused in Dublin were replicated across the country - meters are now being installed in Portlaoise and other towns in County Laois - the final bill would be in the region of €20 million to fix the leaks caused during installation. Does the Minister of State have any more up-to-date information on this?

New meters fitted in recent years in housing estates are being pulled out. While there may be an argument for taking out the meter, which looks identical to the one being fitted, the meter box is also being taken out. This means it is being claimed that the meter box was not the right size or up to the required standard. Because that has to be ripped out, a section of the footpath needs to be excavated and reinstated. I can see problems with this reinstatement because when a road or footpath is reinstated it looks lovely for about a year, but local authorities will have significant bills in about ten years because there will be footpaths with sections of subsidence all along them. They are being excavated and reinstated within a very short period of time and unless a very good job is done there will be subsidence.

Will people be given one month's notice? Will the contractors be responsible for the leaks, particularly the ones on the house side of the meters? We must not forget that the householders will pay the bill for any water that leaks out at that point. Do we have up-to-date figures for the cost of the leaks caused?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The topic the Deputy raised was the lack of notification to householders prior to installation of water meters and that is what is addressed in my prepared reply. The questions the Deputy raised are not part of that. I will be very happy to ask Irish Water to reply directly to the Deputy on the statistics and the process.

As the Deputy will be aware Irish Water is responsible for the metering programme which commenced in July 2013 with the aim of installing over 1 million meters by the end of 2016. More than 1,000 people are working on installing meters, comprising plumbers, general workmen, supervisory staff and so on.

Customer support arrangements are in place, including a communications campaign and the establishment of a customer contact centre. There should also be contact with each Oireachtas Member. Irish Water undertook that each Oireachtas Member would be contacted as would each local authority member so that they have full access to information about what was going on in their area, particularly if there are problems such as those the Deputy has identified.

Irish Water made a commitment to provide households with information on what it is doing. This information includes details on what to expect before, during and immediately after the installation. Irish Water has confirmed to the Department that it is meeting this commitment. Clearly the Deputy's evidence is entirely contrary to that and it would be very important for him to bring it to the attention of Irish Water urgently. Irish Water delivers leaflets at least two weeks in advance of the installation of the meter. The Deputy has asked for a month and I will ask Irish Water to respond to him on that. A further leaflet is delivered at least three days in advance. This leaflet includes contact details for Irish Water and also asks any householders with any disability, mobility or medical concerns to ring the call centre so any additional support or advice can be arranged.

Irish Water makes every effort to ensure that the communications are delivered in a timely and effective manner. It has informed the Department that there have been a few isolated cases where it has had to temporarily suspend the distribution of the leaflets to maintain the health and safety of its staff. In this regard, section 72 of the Water Services Act 2007 provides that Irish Water can require any consumer of water supplied by it to take such supply through a specified meter.

The protection of the interests of customers is a central element of the Government's reform. The establishment of Irish Water should provide a more efficient and cost-effective service. I appreciate there are more issues. If the Deputy gives me the areas on which he needs responses, I would be happy to come back to him on them.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Some people are carrying out work on a house. The Government introduced a positive scheme to give a tax rebate for those carrying out home improvements and extensions to kick-start the construction industry. In cases where people are trying to carry out renovation work, they need more notice. In the case of disabled people where they have carers coming to collect them where they may have to make arrangements with the Centre for Independent Living, the HSE or the staff of a section 38 or section 39 agency, they need notice to make alternative arrangements.

Meters can be fitted in some areas without much disruption, but in some areas they can cause havoc. In narrow streets access can be blocked off for days which is a particular problem for those who are not as mobile as the rest of us and who may depend on a wheelchair, a walking frame or other similar aids.

It is important people in those situations receive adequate notice. It will not cost any more for them to be notified two weeks earlier. The regime would be better if it was changed to one month and one week instead of a fortnight and three days. My house has not been metered yet but when it is, I will be able to tell the Minister of State whether I received adequate notice. There have been reports that people have not received adequate notice and that needs to be tidied up. Will Uisce Éireann re-examine that practice?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I assure Deputy Stanley that all of the information he has laid before the House and the issues he has raised will be brought to the attention of Irish Water-Uisce Éireann immediately for direct reply to him. I will ask it to copy me and perhaps we can discuss it after that communication has been received.