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

441. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 21 March 2017, the number of meter boxes that were not reused by Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19382/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I refer to the reply to Question No. 402 of 21 March 2017.

Irish Water committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. Irish Water examined each pre-existing meter box to establish if it could be reused. In some cases it was not possible to reuse the meter box for a variety of reasons including insufficient depth of cover, pre-existing damage to the meter box or incompatibility with the Irish Water meter. Irish Water does not have a record of the number of meter boxes not reused.

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

442. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 21 March 2017, the number of meter boxes and water meters installed by local authorities in advance of the Uisce Éireann water meter installation project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19383/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I refer to the reply to Question No. 402 of 21 March 2017.

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. Prior to this, responsibility for water services infrastructure was a matter for local authorities under Section 31 of the Water Services Act 2007.

Prior to the commencement of the national metering programme, a pre-installation survey was undertaken by local authorities to inform the procurement process. This survey primarily identified the location of the outside stop valves and properties that were suitable for metering by Irish Water. Where water meters and meter boxes were installed in advance of the metering programme as a condition of planning, I understand that in some cases the planning authority only requested that a meter box be installed, while in other cases the installation of a meter box and meter was required. Irish Water committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible and over the course of the metering programme in excess of 125,000 meter boxes were reused by Irish Water.

Irish Water does not have total data on the number of meter boxes and/or water meters installed in advance of its establishment.