Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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189. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15046/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provided for a range of matters consequent upon the transfer of functions in relation to public water services from local authorities to Irish Water. This includes the mechanisms for the transfer of assets and liabilities from local authorities to Irish Water. In particular, Section 12(8) provides for the transfer of development levies received by local authorities for the purpose of investment in water services to be transferred to Irish Water and provides that such levies can only be expended by Irish Water in the functional area of the local authority concerned.

On 30 March 2015, I signed an order under section 12 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 providing for the transfer from the local authorities to Irish Water of moneys received or due to be received, in accordance with section 48 or 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

While this gives legal power for the transfer of the resources, the financial transaction which subsequently arises is dependent on the completion of work which has been underway for some time between Irish Water and the local authorities in relation to the identification and quantification of water-related financial assets, liabilities and debtors which will result in a net amount to be reflected in a balancing statement resulting in payments to be made by Irish Water to local authorities or vice versa. The work involved is now at an advanced stage and I anticipate that it will be completed shortly. This work is focussed on identification of the liabilities with precision and accuracy, but as it has evolved it has been possible to estimate the likely aggregate liability for the purpose of the financial planning by Irish Water and the submission of forecast expenditure and liabilities to the Commission for Energy Regulation.