Written answers

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Irish Water Expenditure

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the cost of establishing Irish Water, including wages, contracting out services and programme spending. [28063/13]

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy , which is published on my Department's website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. A key objective is to rationalise the cost of the current service delivery and ensure more efficient operation of water services by moving from 34 water services authorities to a single body; following enactment of comprehensive legislation later this year, Irish Water will, therefore, become the water services authority from 1 January 2014.

The implementation strategy is being rolled out under a range of work streams which involve local authority, Departmental and Bord Gáis personnel and using the range of skills and experience in these organisations. Bord Gáis are also engaged in an on-going process of seconding staff from local authorities and the Department to support work on the Irish Water programme. A process of direct recruitment has also commenced. External service providers, appointed by Bord Gáis by way of public procurement processes, will be involved in various aspects of the programme including company establishment, customer service and billing and the water metering programme. The Department is not providing funding to Bord Gáis for the establishment costs or the metering programme.

It will be a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation in due course to satisfy itself in relation to the appropriateness of costs incurred in the operation of Irish Water as part of the process of setting the tariffs for both the domestic and non-domestic sectors in the future. It is envisaged that the Commission will engage in public consultation as part of this process.

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