Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will publish his assessment of the establishment of a water utility. [39268/11]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff within his Department and within local authorities currently engaged in preparing for the transfer of responsibility for water service from local authorities to the new Irish water utility. [39271/11]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the representations he has received from Irish semi-State companies interested in taking responsibility for water and wastewater services. [39272/11]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the representations he has received from non-Irish companies interested in taking responsibility for water and wastewater services. [39273/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 59 to 61, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority 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 and the EU/IMF commits Ireland to undertaking an independent assessment of the establishment of such an authority.

PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed to undertake this independent assessment, the purpose of which is to examine existing organisational arrangements in the water sector and consider the most appropriate assignment of water functions for the future. The consultants were asked, as part of their terms of reference, to consider the potential forms of company structures for Irish Water including consideration of the assignment of responsibility for water services provision, or part thereof, to an existing State agency. Consequently, a number of State agencies have participated in the stakeholder soundings during this phase of the work, including the ESB, Bord Gáis Éireann, Bord na Móna and the National Roads Authority.

I am not aware of any interest from any private companies in taking responsibility for water or waste water services. The Government has made it clear that whatever organisational form is chosen for Irish Water, it will remain in public ownership.

The consultants have now submitted the first phase of their assessment. The Government will consider the outcome of the first phase of the independent assessment relating to the optimal organisational structures for Irish Water, including its proposed powers and responsibilities. This will include the question of publication of the first phase report.

The next stage of the consultancy work will involve the development of an implementation plan, and it is only at this stage that the question of preparatory work for the transfer of responsibilities will arise. At present, the work on the study is being managed by my Department, together with a steering group comprising representatives of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, NewERA and the County and City Managers Association.