I propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together.
Ón 1ú Eanáir 2014, is é Uisce Éireann atá freagrach as seirbhísí uisce poiblí. Forálann an tAcht um Sheirbhísí Uisce (Uimh. 2) 2013 gur féidir le hUisce Éireann táillí a bhailiú as custaiméirí atá ag fáil na seirbhísí uisce a cuireann sé ar fáil. Comh maith le sin, forálann an tAcht gurb é an Choimisiún um Rialáil Fuinnimh (CRF) atá freagrach as rialáil eacnamaíoch neamhspleách ar an earnáil uisce. Tugtar freagracht reachtúil chun leasaithe custaméirí a chosaint go dtí an CRF freisin.
Rinne Uisce Éireann foilsiú le déanaí ar Phlean Infheistíocht Caipitil atá beartaithe acu idir 2014-16 agus tá an plean seo ar fáil ar shuíomh idirlín Uisce Éireann www.water.ie. Is ceist d’Uisce Éireann anois í dul chun cinn gach tionscnamh caipitil seirbhís uisce.
Faoi Rialacháin an Chomhphobal Eorpach 2014 (Uisce Óil), cóip de atá ar fáil i leabharlann an Oireachtais, ní mór do sholáthraithe uisce óil a chinntiú go gcomhlíonann an t-uisce a sholáthraítear le na paraiméadar ceimiceach agus micribhitheolaíoch atá leagtha amach sna Rialacháin.
In Iúil 2014, eisítear treoir beartais chuig an CRF ar roinnt cúrsaí a bhaineann le táillí uisce tí, de réir ailt 42 den Acht. Sholáthair an treoir polasaí go gcinnteodh an CRF go gclúdaíonn an plean um tháillí uisce suíomhanna ina bhfuil caighdeán na seirbhísí uisce a chuireann Uisce Éireann ar fail laghdaithe nó teoranta, (mar shampla fógraí fiuchadh uisce).
Tá an cur chuige do tháillí atá molta ag Uisce Éireann leagtha amach i bplean táillí uisce, a sheoltar chuig an CRF i gcomhréir le forálacha an Achta um Sheirbhísí Uisce (Uimh. 2) 2013. Is é an CRF atá freagrach as an phlean a cheadú. Tuigim go gcuirfidh an CRF tús le comhairliúchán poiblí go luath i ndáil leis an phlean táillí uisce. Tá sonraí iomlána ar phleananna comhairliúcháin phoiblí an CRF le fáil ar a láithreán gréasáin (www.cer.ie).
Tá sé curtha in iúl ag Uisce Éireann do mo Roinn go bhfuil foireann toimnaithe bunaithe acu chun déaláil le toscaireachtaí agu ceisteanna ó ionadaithe poiblí. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an bhfoireann seo ag an seoladh ríomhphoist oireachtasmembers@water.ie nó ag an uimhir guthán 1890 278 278.
With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers.
Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations.
In July 2014, a policy direction was issued to the CER in accordance with section 42 of the 2013 Act on a number of matters relating to domestic water charges. The policy direction provided that the CER shall ensure that the water charges plan should make provision for circumstances where the quality of water services provided by Irish Water to customers is impaired or where services are reduced or restricted (e.g. boil water notices).
The proposed approach to charging has been outlined by Irish Water in a water charges plan which it has submitted to the CER in line with the provisions of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. The CER is responsible for approving the plan. I understand that the CER will initiate a public consultation shortly in relation to the water charges plan. Full details of the CER’s public consultation plans are available on its website (www.cer.ie).
Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via an email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
