Written answers

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water Services Provision

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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135. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been an audit of the water network across local authority areas to determine the amount of lead piping contained in the water network; if such an audit is planned in the context of the future movement of water services from local authorities to Irish Water; if he will indicate if householders who have lead in their water pipes will be afforded an exemption from additional water charges due to the lead piping when Irish Water is operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39950/13]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. As part of the metering programme, Irish Water will be identifying the location of any lead service connections during the installation programme.

The Government has also decided to assign responsibility for the economic regulation of the water sector, including the setting of charges, to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The primary role of the CER will be to protect the interests of customers and to ensure a consistent and appropriate level of service is provided to them.  The Water Services Act 2013 assigns to the CER the power to advise the nister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on the development of policy regarding the regulation of the provision of water services and it is intended that full regulatory powers will be assigned to the CER in further legislation which is currently in preparation.

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