Tuesday, 14 Oct 2014

Written Answers Nos. 293-302

Irish Water Administration

Ceisteanna (293, 339)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

293. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average processing times for Irish Water to deal with queries from citizens. [39460/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

339. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements being made to ensure prompt replies from Uisce Éireann to queries raised by the public and public representatives; his views that it is satisfactory that no detailed replies have been received to queries raised by this Deputy dated 5 September 2014 and 17 of September 2014 despite reminders and also in view of the fact that the deadline for submitting Irish Water applications is approaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39213/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 339 together.

Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services and is responsible for dealing with queries.

I understand from Irish Water that queries from the general public to Irish Water are received in the form of phone calls, post, email or other online media format (twitter etc.).

Since the start of the year Irish Water has responded to 314,559 calls; the average answering time is 48 seconds and average length of calls is 7.2 minutes.

The target turnaround times for the other channels are 24 hours for email, 2 hours for tweets and 4 days for post. Irish Water’s actual turnaround for each channel at present is same day for tweets, 5 days for emails, and 4 days for post.  This current performance reflects the volume of contacts currently being handled since the recent publication of the first Water Charges Plan, the commencement of charges liability on October 1st and the ongoing application campaign with substantial daily responses and enquiries arising from the circa 2 million packs and correspondence mail-out.

Earlier in 2014 my Department asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to the operation of water services under the new utility. Irish Water launched the Elected Representative Support Desk in January, and the dedicated email service [e-mail] in late February. Irish Water has responded to 4,700 individual queries from elected representatives on a range of issues. Irish Water will contact the Deputy directly in relation to any outstanding queries.

Irish Water Administration

Ceisteanna (294, 313, 331)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

294. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the purpose of having to provide personal public service numbers when completing the Irish Water application form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38846/14]

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

313. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the jurisdictions to date to which Irish Water has transmitted information it has gathered from customers for secure storage or any other purpose; if he will provide a list in tabular form of the kinds of data which have been transmitted and the purpose in each case; if he will provide a list of the names of companies, either domestically or abroad, which Irish Water has entered into a contract with to store, manage or otherwise utilise data Irish Water has gathered from customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38982/14]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

331. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the requirement for personal public service data by Irish Water is following the USA model of private utilities requiring social security details in order to run credit checks on customers and potential customers to ensure bill payment and collection of delinquent accounts and to ascertain level of deposit required in absence of a good credit rating. [39172/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 313 and 331 together.

I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 2 07, 215, 208, 209, 210 and 211 of 8 October 2014. The position is unchanged.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 278 278.

Water Meters Installation

Ceisteanna (295)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

295. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of water meters that have been installed by Irish Water each month to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38847/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The following table sets out the cumulative number of water meters installed under the National Metering Programme at each month end to the end September 2014.

Month	Cumulative Number of water meters  installed
Aug-13	1,273
Sep-13	6,055
Oct-13	18,111
Nov-13	55,233
Dec-13	78,981
Jan-14	107,052
Feb-14	135,372
Mar-14	170,120
Apr-14	205,496
May-14	248,113
Jun-14	291,195
Jul-14	336,779
Aug-14	381,690
Sep-14	430,426

Environmental Policy

Ceisteanna (296)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

296. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on communications between his Department and the Department of Justice and Equality in relation to the issue of right to light as it pertains to overhanging trees; his plans to update legislation or other forms of civil remedy with regards to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38850/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring trees encroaching on a person’s property.

The previous Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to the Minister for Justice in June 2012 to explore the possibility of providing a broader civil law remedy for affected parties in situations such as that outlined. In this regard, advice was sought on the possibility of legislative provision being made whereby a person substantially deprived of the enjoyment of their property due to the deprivation of light caused by high trees on a neighbouring property could apply to the Courts for an order, and that the Courts could make an order as they see fit, e.g. to cut the trees back to an appropriate height. The Minister for Justice responded in July 2012 suggesting that disputes of this nature between neighbours could perhaps be more appropriately dealt with through mediation rather than through the Courts. I understand that the Department of Justice proposes to publish a Mediation Bill during 2015.

Irish Water Remit

Ceisteanna (297, 300)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

297. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the precise charging formula which will apply in cases where water leaks are discovered inside a customer's property; if he will clarify that, once the capped rate no longer applies, the amount of water wasted from when a leak develops to when it is discovered will be a chargeable amount either under the fix first policy or subsequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38852/14]

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

300. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the first fix free policy will apply to all leaks in cases where there are multiple leaks discovered; if the full policy will apply if multiple leaks are discovered at intermittent stages but all arise from the same event for example an extreme weather occurrence such as heavy rain or severe frost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38855/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 300 together.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and that the water charges plan prepared by Irish Water is subject to the approval of the CER.

Under the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for repair and maintenance of the internal water distribution system from the main stopcock to the house and within the house rests with the homeowner. However, the Government has agreed to provide additional funding to Irish Water for their capital investment to include a free first fix scheme.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has decided that where a customer leak has been identified under the ‘first fix’ policy, the customers’ charges will be capped at the assessed level until the leak is fixed by Irish Water. Irish Water has made a proposal to the CER regarding a ‘first fix’ policy and it is understood that the CER intend to hold a public consultation in advance of a decision and implementation of the scheme in January 2015.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email to [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 278 278.

Irish Water Remit

Ceisteanna (298)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under which legal provision does the responsibility and authority for maintenance of water infrastructure installed under a footpath outside a private dwelling place fall to the dwelling owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38853/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Irish Water is responsible for water services infrastructure including water supply pipes or drainage pipes extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private dwelling. Under section 54 of the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for maintenance of the water distribution system internal to the boundary of a property rests with the owner.

Water Quality

Ceisteanna (299)

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

299. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will alleviate fears for residents in Castlerea, County Roscommon and surrounding areas who have concerns about the high levels of chlorine that will be added to water in the area following water upgrade. [38854/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. I have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure. 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 is wholesome and clean. Water which is wholesome and clean is defined as water which is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which in numbers or concentrations constitute a potential danger to human health, and which meets the quality standards specified in the Schedule to the Regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water’s compliance with these Regulations. In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the Regulations, the water supplier will investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, if a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive, to ensure that the appropriate remedial action is taken. This may include the prohibition or the restriction (e.g. a boil water notice) of the supply by the water supplier. The EPA publishes an annual report on the quality of drinking water supplies in Ireland, which sets out details on the numbers of water restrictions and boil water notices. Copies of these reports are available in the Oireachtas library or from the EPA website, www.epa.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 [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 278 278.

Question No. 300 answered with Question No. 297.

Water Meters Installation

Ceisteanna (301)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

301. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, records of all instances in Irish Water of when their agents encountered ransom strips when seeking to install water meters; the way each was resolved; if any money has been paid in respect of these; and if so, the amount in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38856/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under this current phase of the National Metering Programme, water meters are being installed outside domestic residences on publically-accessible land, at the location of the existing Outside Stop Valve. These meters are being installed in line with the survey results as carried out by each local authority in advance of the Metering Programme commencing, and as legislated for under the Water Services Acts. I understand from Irish Water that, for this reason, there have been no instances of installers encountering ransom strips when installing water meters.

Electoral Reform

Ceisteanna (302)

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

302. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for a change in electoral law to allow persons resident in the State that are not citizens or United Kingdom citizens a right to vote in elections to Dáil Éireann; his views on such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38877/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Subject to age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote at all elections and referendums. EU citizens may vote at European Parliament and local elections; non-EU citizens may vote at local elections. In addition, British citizens are also eligible to vote at Dáil elections. Under section 8 of the Electoral Act 1992, the Minister may by order provide for citizens of another EU Member State who are ordinarily resident in Ireland to be registered as Dáil electors on a reciprocal basis, where the Minister is satisfied that the Member State involved grants Irish citizens resident in that country the right to vote at parliamentary elections there on an equal basis with its own nationals. No such order has been made and I am not aware of any proposals to extend voting rights at parliamentary elections to Irish citizens resident in any other EU Member State. I have no proposals at present to change the existing arrangements.