I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 151 together.
The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann. The Act provides that Irish Water is required to submit an annual report on the performance of its functions each year to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. In addition, the Act provides that the annual report and accounts are to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. The Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013, which will be published shortly, will provide Irish Water with responsibility for the provision of water services. The new legislation will also require Irish Water, when it is preparing strategic and capital investment plans, to consult with the local authorities and to have regard to regional and local development plans.
The 2013 Act enabled the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to provide advice to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on the development of policy regarding the regulation of the provision of water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Bill will provide for the establishment of an independent economic regulator for water services within the CER. While the primary function of the CER will be to protect the interests of customers and to ensure that a consistent and appropriate level of service is provided to them, it will also be responsible for approving the tariffs to be charged by Irish Water. In fulfilling its functions, the CER will have regard, inter alia, to the need to ensure that there is an efficient system for the provision of water services and the need to promote the conservation of water. It is envisaged that, as part of its customer protection role, the CER will establish a dispute resolution service for customers of Irish Water. This approach is in line with the services CER already provide for customers in the energy sector.
