Irish Water Remit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 February 2014

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Questions (456)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

456. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the policy that will apply in cases of water leaks, sewerage leaks and other sewerage problems in estates that have been taken in charge by a local authority and where infrastructure may be substandard; if in such cases liability for repair work will fall on homeowners and if so, under what circumstances; if the fix first policy will apply uniformly in these instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5147/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 , which came into effect on 1 January 2014, provides for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the water services authorities to Irish Water. As such, infrastructure which has been taken in charge by a planning authority is now the responsibility of Irish Water and there is no question of homeowners being liable for leakage outside the boundaries of their property. Irish Water is also responsible for the domestic metering programme. As part of this programme, my Department is currently working on proposals regarding customer-side leakage and the detailed arrangements in that regard are not yet finalised.