Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 453: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the new water board will take over the local authority group water schemes [31947/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government decided in December 2011, based on the recommendations of an independent assessment, to establish a public water utility company, Irish Water, to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. Following further consideration as to whether Irish Water should be established as a new entity or whether existing bodies in the Semi State sector could undertake the function, the Government decided that Irish Water should be established as an independent state owned company within the Bord Gáis Group.

As group water schemes are privately owned, they can only be taken over on a permanent basis by Water Services Authorities at the request of the scheme. This approach will remain the same when Irish Water is established. The Department will remain responsible for the overall policy and funding of the non-public water sector, including the group water sector.

Work is now focused on the development of an implementation strategy which will address transformation planning in more detail. This strategy will provide the platform for dealing with a broad range of implementation issues during the transitional phase, including dealing with matters which cross the boundaries between Irish Water functions in relation to water services and those functions which will remain the responsibility of local authorities or other State bodies which impact on the water environment, including issues impacting on group water schemes.

The implementation strategy is being developed in collaboration with other relevant Government Departments, local authorities, Bord Gáis and NewERA. The strategy will focus on maintaining the delivery of a critical public service during and following a restructuring process, and will give further clarity on the next steps that will be taken in this reform process.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of all allowances and the payment rates of those allowances paid to staff in his Department that are subject to income tax and the list of allowances and the payment rates paid to staff that are not subject to income tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31962/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Information in relation to expenditure on allowances in 2011 is outlined in the following table.

It is not practical to list actual rates for each allowance due to the many variable factors involved including date staff recruited, precise nature of duties undertaken, points on payscales etc.

All allowances are subject to income tax with the exception of Office Accommodation allowance and eating on site allowance. Office Accommodation allowance is a payment made to a number of field staff who make a room available in their home as an office, where suitable accommodation cannot be provided by the Department on an efficient/economical basis, as compensation for disruption and expense incurred.

The main expenditure on allowances in my Department is in respect of Met Éireann where shift allowance and public holiday allowances are paid on account of the 24/7 year round nature of operations. The other allowances listed above are generally common to many Departments.

All allowances in my Department are currently under review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of an overall review of allowances in the Public Sector.