Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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290. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the transfer of information between local authorities and Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24299/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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. Customer communications and information are matters for the utility and ones in which I have no function.

Section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 provided powers to Ervia and Irish Water to request information from a number of parties, including local authorities, to enable it to perform its functions. Within this context, the collection of data to enable Irish Water to carry out its functions is a matter for the utility.

Irish Water is required to manage all personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. Irish Water has an on-going engagement with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner which has worked closely with Irish Water to agree the process for the capture, storage and usage of customer data. 

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ieor by telephone on 1890 578 578.