Departmental Agencies Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Questions (483)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

483. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the bidders for the tender to provide leak detection services; the precise contract details entered into by Irish Water and third parties in respect of leak detection services and technology; the amount that has been allocated towards this specific purpose and the amount that has been spent to date; if Irish Water considered availing of the products and services of a firm (details supplied) in County Kildare for this purpose; if so, the difference in professional fees quoted between this firm and the firm contracted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32338/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme and prepare for the transfer of water services functions from local authorities. These functions were transferred to Irish Water on 1 January 2014 in accordance with the provisions of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013.

While I have a role in consenting to capital commitments, my Department is not involved in the award of contracts, and given the volume of tenders undertaken by Irish Water in recent months, involving thousands of firms, the Department does not have details of all of the number of firms participating.

Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email to [e-mail]

or by telephone on 1890 278 278. If the Deputy requires more information, or information on specific tenders, Irish Water can provide this directly through these arrangements.