Water Meters Installation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Ceisteanna (284)

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

284. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that contractors receiving funds from his Department to install water meters across the State ostensibly so that they can employ persons to install said meters can simultaneously obtain workers on the JobBridge scheme funded by the Department of Social Protection leading to a situation where contractors can retain more profit from the funds than they receive from his Department. [48186/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that neither it nor its contractors have employed meter installers through the JobBridge scheme. The metering programme is being funded by a commercial loan from the National Pensions Reserve Fund to Irish Water.