Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there are plans in place by either his Department or by Irish Water to hold a trade fair in relation to water metering, in order to establish what the market leading technologies in this field are in other jurisdictions, in view of the recent trade fair held by Northern Ireland Procurement in Tipperary for water services and devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51826/12]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a standard water meter has been agreed on by Irish Water for installation across the country; of so, if this meter will be able to capture water leaks with the boundary of a property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51828/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together.

The Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the domestic water metering programme. The Government has recently approved the preparation of legislation to assign the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme. Bord Gáis is working on the development of the specifications for the water meters and the meter reading technology and I expect the detailed specification to be finalised early in 2013. The tendering process for meters will be carried out in accordance with national and EU procurement requirements. There are no plans to hold a trade fair in relation to water metering. Water meters measure the volume of all water that passes through them including water that is consumed or lost through leakage on the customer side.