The Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy , which is published on my Department’s website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. Comprehensive legislation is planned for later this year, following which Irish Water will become the national water services authority from 1 January 2014.
The implementation strategy addresses all the financial, organisational and human resources issues involved in this major transformation programme. Insofar as future capital investment is concerned, it is envisaged that in developing investment plans for public water services, Irish Water will take account of the requirements flowing from the programmes of measures in River Basin Management Plans, and the need to support economic and regional development. Irish Water has recently appointed a head of asset management and is engaged with the Department, and the Water Services Transition Office established by the County and City Managers’ Association, in planning the transition of the current water services capital programme, as well as looking at longer-term strategic planning for the sector and developing an appropriate asset management plan. Detailed fact-finding has been undertaken by the Water Services Transition Office to support this process. Irish water will continue to prepare over the coming months to assume statutory responsibility for the delivery of the public water services capital programme from 1 January 2014.
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