Irish Water will get tenant details from Kerry County Council

Cllr Toireasa Ferris
Sinn Féin Councillor Toiréasa Ferris putting questions on Irish Water to Kerry County Council.

Kerry County Council has confirmed to Sinn Féin that it has been asked to provide details of its tenants to Irish Water. In a written reply to a query by Sinn Féin Councillor Toiréasa Ferris, John Breen, Director of Services at Kerry County Council stated that:

“Irish water cite the Water Services Act 2013 as conferring a right to such data as the Local Authority may hold: section 26(1)(a) and section 26(5)(a) of the Water Services Act 2013  empowers Irish Water to request local authorities to provide such information as Irish Water may reasonably require to enable it to perform its functions under the Act.”

Cllr Ferris said:

“It is shocking that the government gave Irish Water powers to demand this sort of information from local authorities. Kerry County Council should have no part in handing over any personal information to any company, semi-state or otherwise.

“We all know Bord Gais’ record when it came to protecting customer details and Bord Gais owns Irish Water. Council tenants have a right to their privacy and should be consulted before any of their personal details are passed on to Irish Water. Many are refusing to engage with Irish Water while many others simply cannot afford to pay water charges. It is unacceptable that their details will be handed over without any consent.

“Irish Water is an absolute shambles and people rightly have no faith in it whatsoever. It should be scrapped along with water charges.”

John Breen, Kerry County Council provided the answer to the question posed by  Cllr. Ferris.
John Breen, Kerry County Council Director of Services provided the answer to the question posed by Cllr. Ferris.

See Mr. Breen’s full email reply below: 

Dear Councillor Ferris .

I refer to your enquiry regarding data transfer to Irish Water. Irish water have requested information from Kerry County Council .

Irish water cite the Water Services Act 2013 as conferring a right to such data as the Local Authority may hold: section 26(1)(a) and section 26(5)(a) of the Water Services Act 2013  empowers Irish Water to request local authorities to provide such information as Irish Water may reasonably require to enable it to perform its functions under the Act.

Given there is a legal basis for disclosure and so as not to prejudice the rights of tenants to claim allowances, etc. in a timely fashion, we will be making arrangements for the provision of the dataset sought (with appropriate security for its transfer). We will await a specific request from Irish water regarding the type , extent and format of information sought before proceeding further.

I trust this updates you on the present situation .

Regards,

Sean O Braoin / John Breen,  Stiúrthóir Seirbhísí / Director of Services