Results 7,201-7,220 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services Provision (26 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water is responsible for water services infrastructure including water supply pipes or sewers extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a property. Under sections 43 and 54 of the Water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (26 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I will speak to each individual amendment if I may and then I will answer some of the questions that were raised. In regard to amendment No. 13, the review to be carried out by the regulator will assess the rate of demand for water services in dwellings over a 12-month period. We can expect that usage over a 24-month period will be twice the annual usage so 12 months is being set down as a...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Section 8 refers a number of times to dwellings in which the number of residents "exceeds 4". Essentially it does not matter what the average household number is. Deputy Barry Cowen explained it quite well. The provision will mean that any household with more than four people will be able to apply for an additional allowance, per person, above four, but where there are four people, the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: It is based on the total number of households assessed. That will give us the figure for a four-person household. That is what the data have shown us to date. If one divides consumption levels by the number of households, it will result in a figure – the average use, as we are determining it – that will cover four persons in a household based on the cubic meters of water...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Is the figure of 2.6 or 2.7 not the CSO figure for the average size of a household in the country today?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Because it came back with an average household usage figure of 127 cu. m per household per year. In the same data it is indicated that it covers roughly in the region of four occupants. It is actually a little higher – 133 cu. m per household per year. The figure is 55 cu. m for one occupant, 93 cu. m for two occupants, 114 cu. m for three and 133 cu. m for four. That is what we...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Let me be sure there is no confusion on the Deputy's part. The CER came back with average household usage figure of 127 cu. m per year. Based on consumption patterns and the figures given, four occupants equates to 133 cu. m per year per household. That is what will be provided for in our talking about exceeding the figure of four. Above that figure, one can apply for an individual...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: That is why we keep stating "exceeds 4" in section 8.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Let me clarify. It will do two things. First, it will take the level of usage and divide it by the number of households, resulting in a certain figure. It will define the average household as four and the two will match.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: No. I do not accept the amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I believe the Deputy is talking about a later amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The Deputy is referring to amendment No. 20.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The intention is that a review would take place six months before a water charges plan would expire. There would be time to do the review before a new plan was put into place six months later.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Six months prior to the ending of the current charges plan under Irish Water ceasing to be, the regulator would conduct a similar exercise to the one it will conduct one month from now on average usage, to determine the level and pattern of usage across the country.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The first review will be carried out within one month of the enactment of this Bill and that will allow us to determine the patterns ahead of the monitoring period for the following 12 months beginning in January. Subsequent reviews can take place from time to time as determined by the regulator and in any event not less than six months before a water charges plan would expire. The Deputy...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: It expires in 2018.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: No. It expires at the end of 2018 and we are talking about six months into 2018.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I cannot agree with that. We have to protect the independent function of the regulator in carrying out its duty but when the regulator, as a matter of course, holds regular public consultations in carrying out its role, it is open to any Member of the Houses, any Oireachtas committee or political party to engage in that consultation process. I cannot accept the amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2017: Committee Stage (25 Oct 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The report will be published. I will have no discretion in that regard but it is for the committee, if it wishes, to call on the regulator whenever it sees fit but is not for me to put into legislation that it would do so in respect of this consultation process.