Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
318. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered to hold both the referendum on housing and the referendum on public ownership of water together; when it is expected to be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53344/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Framework for the future delivery of water services was identified with unions at the Workplace Relations Commission on 24 June 2022. My Department also hosted parallel engagement with unions on a number of policy matters of relevance to workers in the context of the overall water transformation programme, including a referendum on water ownership. A paper entitled Irish Water Transformation - the Wider Policy Context was shared with unions on 18 July 2022 to reflect the engagement outcomes and is available to member in the Oireachtas Library. This paper sets out the planned approach to bring forward a referendum proposal on water ownership for consideration by Government in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing from the Commission on Housing. In this way, it is intended that definitive proposals, including timelines, for referenda on water and housing will be considered by Government in the near future.
