Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Section 42 enables a water services authority to require that a premises in its functional area be connected to its waterworks or waste water works located nearby subject to the right of appeal to the District Court. Subsection (4) expands these powers to enable a water services authority to require a premises to be connected to the services of its contracted agent or that of an authorised provider of water services, subject to the agreement of the water service provider.

The purpose of the amendment to subsection (4) is to apply the powers of direction under the section to require connection of a premises to services provided by a person operating on behalf of an authorised water services provider. For example, this could include a person operating under an EBO contract for a group water services scheme. The amendment is part of a series of similar amendments to apply relevant functions under the Bill to the public-private partnership partners of authorised water service providers. This will ensure equity of treatment to all water services providers.