Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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476. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the time frame for the allocation of contracts for water metering roll out; the number of contracts involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25531/13]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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477. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated number of sub contractors involved in the roll out of water metering; the time frame for their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25532/13]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria used for the employment of sub-contractors in the roll out of water metering; if such criteria will be at the discretion of the main companies engaged in the roll out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25533/13]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the time frame for the roll out of metering across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25534/13]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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490. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the issuing of contracts for water metering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25779/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 to 479, inclusive, and 490 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 metering programme. The Water Services Act 2013 assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme.

The procurement process for the metering programme is underway. The criteria for the procurement process were developed by my Department, in consultation with Bord Gáis Éireann, to ensure that SMEs have an opportunity to compete for contracts. The process will involve the appointment of a number of regional main contractors, with these contracts due to be awarded in June. The main contractors will be invited to select sub-contractors from a pre-qualified panel created by my Department. The closing date for inclusion on this panel has been extended until 30 June 2013 but there are 158 contractors prequalified to date. The appointment of sub-contractors is a matter for the regional main contractor.

The installation of meter boxes and domestic water meters will commence in July 2013 and will be rolled out as quickly as possible thereafter.