Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2016
72. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give the Ombudsman power to investigate complaints relating to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2439/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 1A of the Ombudsman Act, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform may, after consultation with the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children and such committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas as he or she considers appropriate, and with the consent of such other Minister which is responsible for the entity in question, may by order propose - for approval by the Oireachtas - that a body is subject to review by the Ombudsman.
In the case of Irish Water, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), has a statutory responsibility under the Water Services Act 2014 to provide a complaints resolution service to Irish Water customers with an unresolved dispute with Irish Water. Following investigation, the CER has the power to direct Irish Water to resolve the complaint in a set fashion if the complaint is upheld and where appropriate to pay a refund or compensation.
In addition, my Department has been advised by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (D/ECLG) that an independent consumer consultative forum, known as the Public Water Forum was established by the CER in 2015. The Forum is an independent body, playing a crucial role in ensuring that water consumers, both domestic and non-domestic, participate in the development of, and debate about, public water policy.
In those circumstances, D/ECLG advised my Department that it is not currently proposed to make any changes to the Irish Water dispute resolution mechanism.
