Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if manholes fall under the responsibility of Irish Water or the local authority. [10377/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The position in relation to legal responsibility for water services infrastructure is set out in the Water Service Act 2007. In line with this Act, a water services authority is responsible for water services infrastructure, including manholes, extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private property. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has been responsible for the planning and delivery of public water and waste water services. Each local authoriity, however, continues to be responsible for storm water infrastructure, including manholes, within its own functional area.

It is also important to note that, in line with sections 43 and 54 of the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for water or waste water pipes, including manholes, which are located within the boundary of a property rests with the owner of the property. In this way, local authorities who typically own a range of properties including offices, housing and other buildings relevant to their functional responsibilities, may continue to be responsible for pipework, including manholes, located within the curtilage of their own properties.

Further assistance can be obtained from Irish Water who would be best placed to advise whether particular manholes in the public realm belong to the public water system in their ownership. It may also be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.