Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 June 2012
157 Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on Irish Water; where it will be located; if it will have a regional presence or be centrally located; when will a board of management be appointed and in the interim if there is a designated person or persons within Bord Gais responsible for overseeing the set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28604/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra158 Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of Irish Water if he will outline the nature of the 2000 jobs that it is estimated will be created by the set up of this body; if this figure directly refers to the physical installation of water meters or does this figure refer to a mixture of personnel involved in the installation and future management/technical personnel; when will these positions be advertised; when will recruitment commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28605/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra159 Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given consideration to referring to Irish Water as Gaelige, namely Uisce Éireann; his views on the rationale behind using the English language version of the name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28606/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 159, inclusive, together.
The Government decided in December 2011, based on the recommendations of an independent assessment, to establish a public water utility company, Irish Water, to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. Following further consideration as to whether Irish Water should be established as a new entity or whether existing bodies in the Semi State sector could undertake the function, the Government decided that Irish Water should be established as an independent state owned company within the Bord Gáis Group.
The proposed public utility model represents a major change with significant implications for local government, the water industry in Ireland and its many stakeholders. Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) has key capabilities that can be brought to bear in the establishment of Irish Water, and these skills within the Bord Gáis Group will be paired with the experience and commitment to service in local authorities and the specific water and wastewater capabilities and expertise that exist in local government to build the new organisation. A phased transition is proposed to ensure continuity of service and the building of a fit for purpose organisation within a reasonable timescale.
A high level plan for the phased transition of functions from local authorities to Irish Water was set out in the independent assessment, involving:
the appointment of a Programme Management Office in 2012 to manage the transition process;
the establishment of Irish Water on an interim basis in 2012 and under its own statute in mid 2013 at which stage Irish Water would acquire statutory responsibility for water services;
Local authorities acting as agents of Irish Water for a period with Irish Water taking over their operations on a phased basis from January 2015; and
the full transfer of operations being completed by end 2017 at the earliest.
Work is now focused on the finalisation of an implementation strategy which will address transformation planning in more detail, and will recommend appropriate transitional arrangements. The implementation strategy is being developed in collaboration with other relevant Government Departments, local authorities, BGE and NewERA. The development and rollout of the strategy will also involve co-operation with local authorities and staff to ensure that the change is managed well. The strategy will focus on maintaining the delivery of a critical public service during and following a restructuring process, and will give further clarity on the next steps that will be taken in this reform process.
No final decision has been made regarding the name of the new public water utility. The name "Irish Water" is currently the working title. A decision on the question of an Irish version of the name will be made in the near future. It is proposed that Irish Water, although a national company, will have a regional and local focus. Decisions on the location of the head office and regional offices will be a matter for Irish Water.
It is estimated that the overall water reforms the Government has planned will create 2,000 construction related jobs in the economy on an ongoing basis. This will be achieved through the planned roll-out of the programme of water metering which will lead to the creation of up to 2,000 jobs for the duration of the metering installation programme. A steady level of capital investment of potentially €600 million per annum in water services, facilitated through the new public utility would see this level of construction employment sustained on an ongoing basis through capital investment in new infrastructure.
