Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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468. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding water leaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25969/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provide for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake this metering programme.

Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it was always anticipated that in the course of installing a meter, pre-existing leaks and other latent defects due to the age or condition of the water pipes would be discovered. It is important to note that these leaks are not caused by Irish Water’s contractors. The meter installation programme gives Irish Water a strong starting point for mains rehabilitation by enabling the discovery of pre-existing leaks and helping to target more effective investment in leak repair. Where a leak is identified on the public water mains, as was the case in this instance, the repairs are undertaken by the local authority, acting as agents for Irish Water, as agreed under the Service Level Agreements. The cost of these repairs is part of the operating costs of Irish Water. In the case outlined, an existing leaking water main ferrule was encountered whilst excavating outside the property. This was reported by the metering contractors and Fingal County Council, working on behalf of Irish Water, visited the location of the leak and the repair was made on 14 May 2014.

The Government has decided to introduce a “first fix free policy” to assist householders who may have leaks on their property. The scheme is estimated to cost some €51 million to the end of 2016. Details of the scheme and the conditions applying will be announced by Irish Water shortly.