Transcript Document

Water Services Training Group
16th Annual Conference
Water Sector Reform
Programme
Implementation
INEC, Killarney, 8th November 2012
1
Water Sector Reform
Programme Implementation
Future Role of Local
Authorities in the
Water Sector and Transition
Tom Barry
County Manager
Carlow County Council
Overview of Water Services in Ireland
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34 Water Authorities
950 Treatment Plants
25, 000 kms of pipe network
1 Million domestic consumers
160,000 commercial consumers
Current Financial Model
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Operation and Maintenance Costs
(2012)
Commercial Water Income
Local Government Sources
Capital Investment 2000-2009
2011
2012
2014
€ 712m
€259m
€453m
€4.6bn
€435m
€371m
€296m
Delivery of Water Services
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Reduction in Local Authority Staffing
2008
37,243
2012 (Feb) 29,000
Water Services Staffing 15% approx
Public Private Partnership Schemes
Key Drivers of Reform
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EU | IMF | ECB Agreement
Introduction of Water Charges
Major Reform Issue for Local Government
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Water ..... an essential service
Link with other services
- Land use planning
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Future economic development
Emergency responses to severe weather
Fire service
Surface water drainage
Transfer of assets of €11.2bn
Water Pricing Policy/Rates
Benefits of a Public Utility Model
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Build on strengths of the existing
system
Develop a sustainable financial model
Lever additional funding for investment
Importance of Transitional
Arrangements
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Continuity of operation
Build a ‘fit for purpose’ public utility
Local Authority role
Department role
Irish Water – Partnership with
Local Authorities
Planned exit of Local Authorities
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New inter-dependencies
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- Emergency management
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- Fire protection
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- Planning and development
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- Environment regulation
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- Interface with the elected members
at local level
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