Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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717. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when Irish Water will be taking over the remainder of the group water schemes in County Kerry; if they have finalised a system for metering these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13891/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. Under the legislation, Irish Water now has the powers previously held by local authorities in relation to the takeover of Group Water Schemes and this means that Irish Water may acquire by agreement a waterworks or waste water works, but subject to not fewer than two thirds of those entitled to dispose of it (typically the members of a group water services scheme) giving their consent.

Where local authorities had, at the request of Group Water Schemes, already taken them into charge before 31 December 2013, the schemes' networks now form part of the public water supply network being transferred to Irish Water. 

Group Water Schemes that are supplied by way of a connection to the public water supply network will now become customers of Irish Water, having previously been customers of the relevant local authority. Private Group Water Schemes that have their own water sources will not be customers of Irish Water and will continue to operate as before.

My Department has asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to the operation of water services under the new utility.  I understand that Irish Water has made contact with Oireachtas members to outline the arrangements for addressing such queries in a timely manner.