Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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726. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm where moneys are being held that were transferred from Skibbereen town council when it was abolished and that were to be spent on water and sewerage infrastructure in the town of Skibbereen in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29684/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Section 12(8) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for 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.

Work is currently underway between Irish Water and the local authorities in relation to the identification and quantification of water-related financial liabilities. Final agreement on the liability to transfer to Irish Water, including financial assets, liabilities and debtors, will be by way of balancing statements agreed between Irish Water and local authorities. Again, this is a very significant exercise which it is important is completed accurately. The work involved is now at an advanced stage and I anticipate that it will be completed shortly.

The balances transferred from former Town Councils under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, currently rest with the relevant merged authority; in the case of Skibbereen Town Council, these balances are with Cork County Council.