COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 13, 2012

MOTION NO. 12

MOTION: Councillor C. King

That this Council expresses it's opposition to the further erosion of the role of the Local Authority by the proposed introduction of "Irish Water" as the new agency/body with sole responsibility for water supply and service. This Council further recognises the loss of employment this would cause within the Local Authorities in this state and the local knowledge that would be lost as a result of such a body being established. Democratic accountability would also be lost as part of the inevitable outcome and goal of privatisation being achieved. For the body to become self financing in the medium term as envisaged would result in enormous bills for the average Family and business for the consumption and use of Water.

REPORT:

A public consultation process has been launched by the Minister for Environment Community Local Government in order to elicit views on the establishment of a new national utility company to oversee water services.  

These proposals are in line with a commitment in the ‘Programme for Government’ to create a new public utility, Irish Water. The ‘EU/IMF/ECB Programme of Financial Support for Ireland’ contains a commitment to prepare proposals for implementation of the recommendations of an independent assessment of the transfer of responsibility for water service provision to a water utility company. The Programme also covers the introduction of domestic water charges. An independent assessment was carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers (Pwc) under contract to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. 

Pwc were asked to undertake the assessment of the existing structures for the provision of water services in Ireland. Based on their assessment of the current structures, international benchmarks and stakeholder soundings, Pwc recommended that Irish Water be created as a public utility in a regulated environment.

Under the preferred proposal Irish Water will be allocated full responsibility for all aspects of water services planning and delivery at national, regional and local level. It will be organised for operational purposes on a river basin district basis. It proposes to transfer the water services assets and liabilities of local authorities to Irish Water and it will be responsible for collection of water charges both domestic and non-domestic. It is intended that the income stream from charges will support third party funding with a view to Irish Water becoming self funding over time.

 The assessment looked at a number of models for the management of water services* in Ireland and ultimately recommended that a single national Utility Company was, in their view, the best option for the delivery of water services. This new Utility Company (Irish Water) will see the transfer of responsibilities and functions for water services away from local authorities entirely.  A timescale has been proposed by the Department which sees the establishment of the new utility as follows:-

 2012    -           Project Management Office in Department is established

 2013    -           Irish Water CEO appointed Local Authorities appointed as agents of Irish Water with responsibility for operational and maintenance of water services

 2015                Irish Water commences taking over water services on a phased basis

2017    -           All operations nationally transfer to Irish Water

 The consultation is seeking views in relation to the following matters:

 ·              the development of an implementation plan for the proposed public water utility. This includes issues arising from an organisation, human resources and environmental perspective in the transitional phase, as well as boundary issues between the proposed utility and other actors involved in the water sector and

 ·              the proposed approach in relation to the future funding of water services including through water charges.

As part of the public consultation process the Department has published the following documents, which are available on its website:

Consultation Paper: ‘Reform of the Water Sector in Ireland’. Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government – January 2012 and ‘Irish Water Phase 1 Report’. PricewaterhouseCoopers – November 2011

The closing date for expression of views is by close of business Friday 24th February 2012.  

If the motion is passed the sentiments of the members will be conveyed to the Minister for Environment, Community & Local Government.