Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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482. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to set up a specific parliamentary question office within Irish Water; the timeline for its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2852/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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As Irish Water is a commercial utility and a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, formed and registered under the Companies Act, I and my Department will not necessarily have access to details of, or direct accountability for, expenditure and other organisational matters in relation to the company.

In this context, and to support and assist public representatives in their role, my Department has requested Irish Water, on behalf of myself and Minister O’Dowd, to take early action to ensure that public representatives are regularly briefed on matters pertaining to the organisation and operation of the utility. Irish Water is currently considering how best to support and respond to the Parliamentary and public representation needs of elected representatives at national and local level.