Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2014
213. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the overall specification of the billing system a company (details supplied) designed for Irish Water. [39600/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the operating capacity of the billing system a company (details supplied) designed for Irish Water. [39601/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if anyone at a company (details supplied) voiced concerns about the requirements relating to or performance of the billing system that company designed for Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39602/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 to 215, inclusive, together.
The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water is responsible for public water services and that it shall 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, the CER, which has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers of Irish Water. Decisions on the design and delivery of the billing system for Irish Water are operational matters for the company and I have no role in that regard.
However, Irish Water has informed my Department that the overall specification for the billing system was included in the Project Initiation Document (PID) produced for the Irish Water Programme. A copy of the PID was submitted to the Oireachtas Library on 5 February 2014.
Irish Water has confirmed that the system requirements and performance of the billing system is being developed and tested to support the expected volumes of the Irish Water business. The contracted position with the named service provider reflects this requirement.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
