Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2012
21 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money spent on a company (details supplied) thus far with regard to the review of Irish water services and anticipated future costs of consultations with private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13227/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure and to manage the domestic water metering programme. The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the EU/IMF commits Ireland to undertaking an independent assessment of the establishment of such an authority.
My Department procured consultants to undertake this study through an open competition advertised on the Government's public procurement website —www.etenders.ie. As a result of this competition, a team led by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which includes legal and engineering consultants, was appointed. The full cost of the study is expected to be €107,800 excluding VAT. The first part of this study is now completed and was published in January 2012 as part of a consultation process to inform the implementation phase. A sum of €49,000 of the consultancy fee (excluding VAT) was paid in 2011 and the balance is due to be paid during 2012.
The need for further external advice as the work continues will be determined in the light of the conclusion of the final phase of the current work. Accordingly no specific allocation has been made for such work in future years, at this stage.
