Written Answers Nos. 148-51
148. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding pipes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45452/14]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. I have no role in the operational matters of Irish Water.
Under the Domestic Networks Operations Code of Practice, where it is proved that damage to a customer’s property has been caused due to the failure of an Irish Water asset, Irish Water will engage with the customer to agree how to resolve the issue. I understand that Irish Water has engaged with the householder as detailed, and will continue to engage until this issue has been resolved.
Similar to the approach it has taken in the electricity and gas industries, the Commission for Energy Regulation has required Irish Water to submit a Customer Handbook outlining the minimum requirements of customer service standards they will provide to their customers. The Customer Handbook comprises Irish Water’s Customer Charter, Codes of Practice and the Terms and Conditions of supply. Following a public consultation on the document earlier this year, the CER has recently published the approved Irish Water Customer Handbook on its website, at http://www.cer.ie/docs/000956/CER14364%20Irish%20Water%20Customer%20Handbook.pdf.
The CER and Irish Water have also agreed to enter into a voluntary ‘Dispute Resolution Agreement’ which will set out agreed working arrangements and processes to deal with customer disputes. The Irish Water Code of Practice on Complaint Handling has been updated to reflect this agreement. In addition, the CER will be engaging with both Irish Water and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop complementary complaints processes to ensure customers are directed in an efficient manner to the appropriate organisation with their complaint or query. In this regard, it should be noted that Irish Water is also subject to statutory supervision by the EPA and the Health Service Executive in respect of any environmental and human health aspects of its water services provision.
150. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, the dates of meetings of his Department's management advisory council in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the civil servants present at each of these meetings; if he or his Department's Minister of State was present at each of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45476/14]
View answerThe material requested by the Deputy is being compiled into tabular form and will be forwarded to her as soon as possible.
151. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the eligibility criteria for applying for the contract to install water meters; the number of bids received; if he is satisfied that all bidders were fully tax-compliant at the time of making their bids; the timeline by which the tendering process was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45489/14]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bórd Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme.
Four regional main contractors covering eight meter regions were appointed by Irish Water following a public tendering process. All of the contracts were advertised in December 2013 and awarded in full compliance with EU public procurement rules in July 2013. I understand from Irish Water that seventeen interested parties returned Pre-Qualification Questionnaires and, following the evaluation of these pre-qualification questionnaires, eight contractors successfully reached tender stage. However two contractors withdrew, thereby leaving six contractors tendering for the eight regional areas. The contracts were awarded to four contractors on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender criterion.
It was a condition of the award of the contract that the successful tenderer produces promptly a Tax Clearance Certificate, or in the case of a non-resident, a statement from the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland confirming suitability on tax grounds.
