Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

585. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, by category and value, the extent of assets which were transferred to Irish Water upon its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40354/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of responsibility for water services delivery from the county and city councils to Irish Water. Section 12 of the Act provides for the transfer of property from a local authority to Irish Water. Section 13 of the Act provides that any rights or liabilities relating to the property transferred to Irish Water under section 12 shall also stand transferred to Irish Water. Section 14 of the Act provides for the transfer of other liabilities from a water services authority to Irish Water by way of Ministerial Order.

To date, two Orders have been made under section 14 - the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order 2014, which was signed on 20 February 2014, and the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order (No. 2) 2014, which was signed on 24 April 2014. The Orders, which are available in the Oireachtas library, provided for the transfer of a total of 970 contracts from the local authorities to Irish Water.

Work is underway to prepare for the transfer of water services property from the local authorities to Irish Water and it is expected that further Orders will be made in this regard in the coming months.