Results 13,401-13,420 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 40 together. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a fair funding model to deliver reliable water services. The Programme also proposes the installation of water meters in individual households and introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to implement...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The programme for Government proposes the installation of water meters in individual households and the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to implement these proposals, including a strategy for the procurement and installation of water meters. It is envisaged that the installation of meters will commence in...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 16 and 20 together. The programme for Government proposes the establishment of a new State-owned water utility company to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure and to manage the domestic water metering programme. The memorandum of understanding between Ireland, the EU and the International...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy O'Dea asked one of the four questions I answered. I am sorry he did not like what I stated, but I was replying to everyone who asked a question, not just his good self.

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The idea of the independent assessment is to examine each and every one of the issues the Deputy raised. Nationally, more than 3,000 local authority staff work in water services. It would not make sense to move them all into a new quango, but that is a matter for the report. It will make recommendations on which the Government will decide. If there are staff transfers, they will need to...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy is correct in that it is not the intention of the Government to privatise Irish water. I repeat that despite the Deputy saying I did not need to do so. It is a crystal clear policy, like the water we hope to have. The Deputy's party will not have to carry out that campaign. The Deputy mentioned a second issue and we would be happy to get the figures from him regarding his county...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is an important point and that is what the independent assessment will consider. The implementation of water meters is expected to run to approximately €500 million, employing up to 1,800 people over three years. The Deputy's valid point is that if water meters are not installed, approximately 5,000 people would be employed in repairing burst water mains and other problems. The...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The independent assessment will consider all the issues. I have a personal preference, like everybody else, but we must wait to see the outcome of the process. The Deputy asked who will pay for the water meters. If the value for money report indicates that meters should be installed, the National Pensions Reserve Fund - at the time the Deputy's party was in government - agreed to provide...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: One of the recommendations from the independent review will be the best way to manage staff. There may be a structure like the National Roads Authority, and if so most of the staff dealing with water locally would continue to do so. It would not make sense to move everybody to a new quango.

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: It would be a quango.

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: We need a water authority that would be effective and would do the job as efficiently and cheaply as possible. Local authority staff numbers have been reduced by in excess of 6,000 since 2008. Many people have left local authorities and made a significant contribution to the reduction of numbers in the public sector.

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: If that is done more people would be employed but there would be no water meters. We would then have to consider a standard household charge to pay for that. A water meter will be more expensive to install but will reduce consumption immediately. Apart from the free amount consumers have, they would want to pay less rather than more. I am not aware of the position in Donegal but I would...

Bank Reorganisation: Statements (Resumed) (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy's Government burned the taxpayers of the country for the next 30 years.

Bank Reorganisation: Statements (Resumed) (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is set out in the last two lines of that document.

Bank Reorganisation: Statements (Resumed) (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: It was there all along.

Bank Reorganisation: Statements (Resumed) (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy must have rubbed it out.

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The memorandum of understanding between Ireland and the European Union and the International Monetary Fund commits Ireland to undertaking an independent assessment of the establishment of a water utility with a view to commencing charges for water services in 2012 or 2013. The programme for Government includes a proposal to create Irish Water, a new State company which will take over the...

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: First, we want to set up the water authority, Irish Water, as soon as possible. The independent assessment will be completed before October, but I understand there will be an interim report before then. I hope, therefore, the legislation will be ready before January next year. Second, I understand it could take up to three years in total to install water meters in every household. There...

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: We had no choice.

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: When the last Government signed up to have charges-----