1. 1 Water Services Training Group 16 th Annual Conference Water Sector Reform Programme Implementation INEC, Killarney, 8 th November 2012

2. Water Sector Reform Programme Implementation Future Role of Local Authorities in the Water Sector and Transition Tom Barry County Manager Carlow County Council

3. Overview of Water Services in Ireland  34 Water Authorities  950 Treatment Plants  25, 000 kms of pipe network  1 Million domestic consumers  160,000 commercial consumers

4. Current Financial Model  Operation and Maintenance Costs € 712m (2012)  Commercial Water Income €259m  Local Government Sources €453m  Capital Investment 2000-2009 €4.6bn 2011 €435m 2012 €371m 2014 €296m

5. Delivery of Water Services  Reduction in Local Authority Staffing  2008 37,243  2012 (Feb)29,000  Water Services Staffing 15% approx  Public Private Partnership Schemes

6. Key Drivers of Reform  EU | IMF | ECB Agreement  Introduction of Water Charges

7. Major Reform Issue for Local Government  Water..... an essential service  Link with other services  - Land use planning  - Future economic development  - Emergency responses to severe weather  - Fire service  - Surface water drainage  - Transfer of assets of €11.2bn

8. Water Pricing Policy/Rates

9. Benefits of a Public Utility Model  Build on strengths of the existing system  Develop a sustainable financial model  Lever additional funding for investment

10. Importance of Transitional Arrangements  Continuity of operation  Build a ‘fit for purpose’ public utility  Local Authority role  Department role

11. Irish Water – Partnership with Local Authorities  Planned exit of Local Authorities  New inter-dependencies  - Emergency management  - Fire protection  - Planning and development  - Environment regulation  - Interface with the elected members at local level