Gerry Galvin
Principal Adviser (Water), DECLG
25 th June 2013
1

The establishment of a new public water utility to take over responsibility for the delivery of water services.
The introduction of a sustainable funding model to support increased investment in the sector to underpin job creation and statutory compliance.
The introduction of independent economic regulation of the water sector under the
Commission for Energy
Regulation.
2

Projects
•Over 600 major water and waste water schemes/ contracts
Water Supply
•950 public water supplies with
85% plus of the population connected to public water supply;
•25,000kms of water mains;
•1,600 million litres of water produced daily
Waste Water
•480 agglomerations > 500p.e;
•further 500 agglomerations <
500p.e
Capital Funding 2000-
2011
•€5.6 billion Exchequer Spend
•Further €1 billion by local authorities
Impacts
•Wastewater Treatment capacity +
4m pe
•Water Treatment Capacity +
1.4m pe
Annual Funding
•About €1.2 billion spent annually
•€700m+ on operational costs
•€500m+ on capital investment
Compliance
•UWWTD compliance 25% (2000)
– now over 93%
•Significant improvements in compliance with drinking water standards in group water sector
3

Enterprise/Jobs
Climate
Change Population
Growth
Water
Framework
Directive
Compliance with Statutory
Standards



Clarity of roles and responsibilities
Identification of key instruments/tools to underpin the roles and consultative arrangements
Defining relationships which are legislative and other non-statutory arrangements
(including memoranda of understanding, guidance, protocols etc)
4





Public utility to improve efficiency and effectiveness economies of scale, improved strategic planning, access to new forms of funding and reduce
Exchequer burden;
Recognised the importance of the local interface and the skills and commitment of the work-force
5

National
 Policy



Water sector
Planning & Development Policy including national spatial strategy
Local government policy
Regional Assemblies
 Three Regional Assemblies (two members from each council) – Putting
People First (October 2012)
 Funding



National Development Plans,
Exchequer funding of capital programmes
Consent for capital works and borrowing
Irish Water subvention
 Accountability
 Corporate goverance of Irish Water
(with NewERA )
 Oireachtas
 Functions


 adopting and overseeing the implementation of regional strategies. The current Regional Planning
Guidelines will be augmented as Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies to be adopted by the regional assemblies. Relevant agencies will be required to input to, and adhere to, the strategies ; oversight of local authority performance and implementation of Government policy;
Regional Operational Programmes and EU funding, as required and other regional projects, studies and initiatives involving EU or other external funding.


Water Services
Regulatory functions


Functions in relation to river basin management plans, water pollution, etc.
Supervision of group water sector and private water supplies
 Service delivery functions
 Performing water service functions on behalf of Irish
Water under SLA
Other functions
 Planning and Development


Local Development plans
Development management
 Local economic development roles
 Emergency Management
 Fire services


Environmental Protection Agency (1992 Act)
Functions

 the licensing, regulation and control of activities for the purposes of environmental protection, defined as


The prevention, limitation, elimination, abatement or reduction of environmental pollution the preservation of the quality of the environment
Monitoring quality of the environment, provision of advice, support & research

Having regard to ….





Policy of relevant public authorities
High quality environment,
Polluter pays principle
Need for precaution in relation to harmful emissions proper balance is achieved between the need to protect the environment (and the cost of such protection) and the need for infrastructural, economic and social progress and development


Commission for Energy Regulation (proposed 2013
Bill)
Functions

Licence & monitor water utility operations of the company

Set standards of performance


Examine tariff proposals, underlying costs & approve tariffs
Dispute resolution service for customers

Having regard to ….




Customer are provided with service in line with standards set
Economical & efficient water system
Reasonable demands for water services – anticipated demand for future customers (link to company strategic plans)
Statutory standards &
Water Framework
Directive


Based on 2007 Act (section 31) – new Bill in 2013
Functions




Metering and customer relationship (2013 Act)
Provision of water services nationally

Abstraction, treatment & distribution of potable water

Collection, treatment & disposal through foul & combined sewers of waste water
Strategic planning and accessing third party finance
Public service obligations

Having regard to ….






Protection of human health and the environment and relevant statutory provisions (s.31(2)(b)+
(c ) and (d)).
Sustainable management of water resources (s.31(2)(g)) development plans, regional or spatial planning guidelines, housing strategies, SAC
(s.31(2)(h)) – link to more general statement of proper planning and sustainable development
River basin management plans
(s.31(2)(k))
Guidance/direction of EPA
Ministerial guidance

 Irish Water will be the water services authority and single point of contact for customers. It will have responsibility for:








The abstraction, treatment and distribution of drinking water;
Conserving water supplies through maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure;
The collection and treatment of waste water and the management and operation of combined sewer overflows;
Sludge disposal;
Customer billing and relationship management, including requests for new connections;
Strategic planning for the sector, water resource management and localised catchment management focused on source protection;
The roll-out of the water metering programme;
Sourcing private finance for investment in capital projects

Local Authorities Irish Water
Current Phase
Interim Phase (Water
Services Act, 2013)
Transition phase
(2014-2017)
Steady State (post
2017)
Water Services Authorities
Water Service Authorities
Agents of Irish Water for delivery of services
Will remain as agents of Irish
Water for a period of time
Ongoing relationship re strategic planning, wider water management, emergency planning
Planning new utility.
Some functions (domestic metering)
Water Service Authority
Service level agreements with local authorities
Water Services Authority, responsible for capital investment & operations
Service level agreements with local authorities
13






The Department, at Tier 1 , would have clear responsibility for policy, legislation and ensuring the provision of adequate resources for implementing the Directive. It is at this level also that cross-sectoral co-ordination of the draft river basin management plans and programmes of measures with other key Departments and state agencies (e.g. Department of Agriculture, Irish Water and the OPW), before presentation to the Minister for approval.
Under proposed new arrangements, significant new responsibilities would be assigned to the EPA at Tier 2 , including the crucial role of drafting the river basin management plans and compiling the programme of measures.
The local authorities, operating at Tier 3 would assume the role of implementation and enforcement of measures on the ground and would have key responsibility for ensuring compliance with the
Directive on public participation.


 December 2014: Tier 1 to receive draft RBMPs and suggested
POMs prepared by EPA working with Tier 3
 October 2015: the recommended final plan and POM goes from
Tier 1 to the Minister for approval
 Tasks involved:
 Consultations with stakeholders during 2014
 Irish Water to develop its draft capital plan for 2016-2021 and draft Water
Services Strategic Plan
17


Hierachy of plans to ensure consistency and coherence of development & economic planning at all levels, with democratic input
19

 Strategic direction over short, medium and long-term timelines to 2040 to fulfil its vision and mandate from
Government
 Strategic objectives





Service standards, capacity deficits, demographic & economic trends, water resource management, environmental compliance, climate change
Assets understanding
 Process for prioritisation and Indicative capital budget
 Strategic Environmental Assessment may be necessary
 Section 36 of 2007 provides basis for WSSP
21

 Plan form part of the Revenue Submission to CER
 Informed by


Water Services Strategic Plan
Draft River Basin Management Plans




Regional Economic and Spatial Strategies
Statutory consultation with local authorities
Other stakeholder engagement
Asset Management Plan
 Funding envelope determined by



State funding for capital purposes
Third party revenue
Tariffs approved by CER 22

It is envisaged that the regional assemblies will provide an appropriate mechanism for consultation and engagement between Irish Water and the local government system on strategic matters. ( Putting People First)

 Programme of Reform will
 Build on existing expertise
 Focus on equipping sector to meet future challenges, new sources of funding
– acceleration of investment
 Extensive programme of work underway to establish Irish Water
 Collaborative approach vital to success
 Need to maintain delivery and continuity of service
– phased approach
 Increased activity in coming months - Implementation will be underpinned with extensive communications with staff, stakeholders and the public.
 Developing the policy framework to underpin the strategic relationships between Irish Water, local government and regional assemblies.
24