Results 1,741-1,760 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: I have already told the Minister of State what we did not get. Irish Water gave a commitment to produce an audit that would give exact details of how much needs to be spent to make it fit for purpose.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: There is no clarity at present. We have to give authorisation to the Minister of State to proceed in the absence of clarity.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: The figure of €500 million is there now.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: I am seeking a final clarification. Local contractors will be appointed at the behest of the regional contractors.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: The list will be compiled with the assistance of Bord Gáis or Irish Water.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: That will not constitute a guarantee of work, so to speak.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: That is fine. Will the subcontractors Bill be brought into force to protect anybody who wins a contract from a regional contractor to carry out some work?
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: The thrust of the amendment is a free allowance being part of any water policy once this Bill and the other are introduced. Can the Minister comment on the Government's intention in this regard and what sort of percentage of subvention will the Government pursue once this process enters completion stage?
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: I accept what the Minister said about low-income families. It goes without saying that there would be an allowance there but it is what happens over and above that which is the issue, as Deputy Murphy noted. Is the polluter pays principle at work here in the sense that an allowance will be calculated per the number of people in the household and anything beyond that refers to a charge? Has...
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: I ask for clarification of the amendment. The Minister of State refers to subsidiary and the board. Will local authority staff be employed?
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: I presume the new authority will be responsible for policing group water schemes following the enactment of the legislation.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: Is the Minister of State satisfied that the group schemes to which I refer currently comply with the various regulations and directives?
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: When responsibility is transferred to Irish Water from the local authorities, will it be the case that the maintenance directives will be enforced? Will it also be the case that if these are enforced, many schemes will be found not to be in compliance? If that is the case, will they be forcibly taken over? In the event that those responsible want the new authority to take a particular...
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: I have not come across situations where local authorities have failed to take in charge group water schemes in circumstances where those responsible for such schemes wanted this to happen. I am conscious of the cumbersome directives which may come into place in the future in respect of the maintenance and management of group schemes. It could be that complying with such directives could...
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: I have no problem in that regard. What we are discussing is my main concern with regard to group water schemes and the concept of a new water authority. I fear that if - despite the guarantees given to the Minister of State - said authority were sold off in the future, the high maintenance cost attaching to the group schemes might lead to them being seen as unprofitable by those who wish to...
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: Can the people on group water schemes get grant aid from the Department into the future?
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: The capital funding will remain the source by Government through local authorities for distribution to group schemes.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: In the event of future directives leaving them unsustainable as regards maintenance, a barrier will not be put in their place for them to be taken in charge by the new authority.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: Some group schemes have a public supply and some have a private supply.
- Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)
Barry Cowen: For those that have a public supply there would be a knock-effect from this measure. I am part of a group scheme and if it is the case that an EU directive or otherwise makes it unsustainable for our contributions to maintain that into the future, we would hope that we could apply to an authority for that authority to take it in charge, in the same way as that authority takes in charge the...