John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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535. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to indicate the name of the manufacturer of the water meters that are currently being rolled out across the country; if he will indicate the location where the meters were produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46074/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including responsibility for the delivery of the domestic metering programme. I understand that there are two companies manufacturing the meters used on the metering programme – Itron and Diehl. These companies were selected as part of an open procurement process by Irish Water for the supply of water meters. The meters are manufactured in France and Germany.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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536. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline the reason firms with a turnover of less than €25 million were excluded from tendering for the installation of water meters; the number of firms that tendered for the installation of water meters; the number of firms that were disqualified from this tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46089/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bórd Gáis Éireann Group (now Ervia) and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme, which commenced in August 2013 and will be completed by mid-2016. Irish Water has informed my Department that its tendering process is fully compliant with public procurement rules. Given the value of the contract for the domestic metering programme, this tender was advertised at EU level, in accordance with EU procurement rules. While I have a role in consenting to capital commitments, neither I nor my Department were involved in the award of contracts. However, I understand that four regional main contractors covering eight meter regions were appointed by Irish Water on foot of the procurement process.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.