Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

455. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of service level agreements between Irish Water and local authorities; if local authorities will be paid a block grant to operate water services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49163/13]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. Further proposed comprehensive legislation will transfer statutory responsibility for water services to Irish Water and will provide for local authorities to act as agents for Irish Water, with this relationship being expressed through Service Level Agreements. These agreements are at present being developed between Irish Water and the local authorities with a view to them being in place for 1 January 2014. Local authorities will be paid by Irish Water for the services provided under these agreements and I do not anticipate such payment to be way of block grant for the operation of water services.