Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2013
167. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in the context of the establishment of Irish Water, liabilities incurred by local authorities in the provision of public water supplied to communities will be transferred to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32428/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy, which is published on my Department’s website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. A key objective is to rationalise the cost of the current service delivery and ensure more efficient operation of water services by moving from 34 water services authorities to a single body; following enactment of comprehensive legislation later this year, Irish Water will, therefore, become the water services authority from 1 January 2014, responsible for the supply of public water and waste water services. Functions, such as the bulk provision of water to private group water schemes from public water supplies, will become the responsibility of Irish Water from that date. Irish Water will be working through service level agreements with local authorities to deliver on a range of their functions. Work being progressed at present is examining the necessary processes for the transfer of assets and financial liabilities associated with these assets taking into account, inter alia, the impacts on local government finances.
