Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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295. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the move towards the creation of a single water utility; and if legislation will be forthcoming from his Department in 2021 on this matter. [5681/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government provides that the Government will retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national, standalone, regulated utility.

In this context, in September 2018, the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) reported on a process of engagement, undertaken with the parties involved in the water sector transformation programme, including ICTU and relevant affiliated unions, local government management through the County and City Management Association, Ervia/Irish Water and my Department. Subsequent to this, and commencing in February 2019, there has been an ongoing series of engagements to work towards the development of a stable structural and operational framework for the future to replace the existing system of Service Level Agreements between Irish Water and each of the 31 local authorities, although progress to date has been slow.

Consistent with the Programme for Government and building on the work that has been undertaken to date through the WRC, I undertook to bring forward a clear set of policy recommendations setting out the Government’s expectations in relation to the next phase of transformation for the water sector.

I recognise the challenges arising, and the concerns which all parties have, notably the workers. The proposed changes also give rise to significant challenges for the local government sector in Ireland. Any process of transformation needs to be cognisant of the potential impacts on the wider local government system.

Work on the Policy Paper is now at an advanced stage of completion and I expect to bring it forward for consideration by Government in the coming weeks.

In addition to the process above, I am bringing forward legislative proposals to establish Irish Water as a standalone company. The proposed Bill is now included in the legislative programme published by the Government on 13 January 2021.