Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the role and powers he intends to prescribe to Irish Water in the planning process; if he intends to provide Irish Water with similar powers to those of the National Roads Authority in terms of the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50944/13]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary under the Companies Acts within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. The Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013 is currently in preparation, and will provide for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the water services authorities to Irish Water. Irish Water will be given the necessary powers to carry out their functions in this Bill which will be published shortly. This will include a requirement in preparing water services strategic plans to have regard to proper planning and sustainable development. No functions of local authorities as planning authorities will be transferred to Irish Water.