Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way persons (details supplied) who are currently on the dole apply for positions under the water metering programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15543/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 tender documents for regional management contracts issued by Bord Gáis require that at least 25% of the estimated 1,600 jobs that will be created directly as a result of the domestic water metering programme will be for people from small local businesses, the unemployment register, school leavers, graduates and apprentices. This will be a provision in the regional management contracts that will be awarded by Bord Gáis and it will be the responsibility of the contractors to recruit staff directly. No contracts have yet been awarded for the installation of boundary boxes and meters.