The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. The meter installation programme commenced in August 2013 and will be completed by mid-2016. The timeframe and the allocation of resources for the installation of meters in each region is an operational matter for Irish Water.
Irish Water has informed my Department that it is committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. The existing meter boxes were surveyed in the housing estate in question prior to installation and were found not to be compatible with the water meters being used by Irish Water. The existing meter boxes are therefore being removed and disposed of in the most sustainable manner possible.