Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/David Papazian

Irish Water explain why they want to know the colour of your hall door

They say they want to know, but that there’s a good reason.

IRISH WATER HAS said that they will occasionally ask for the colour of a person’s hall door – but not necessarily for billing.

The beleaguered utility was today the subject of an Irish Examiner story which suggested that they are to ask householders for more comprehensive details on their properties, asking questions about the colour of the door, the side of the road the house is on and the colour of their gate.

The Examiner story said that a rural customer had asked the company how they were sure the correct meter had been connected to their home. The customer says that in a response, the company asked for the colour of their home and door?

Today, an Irish Water spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that they will occasionally ask for extra details because Ireland has 40% non-unique addresses and the extra details can be used for customer service reasons.

The spokesperson said that the details will allow Irish Water staff find properties.

“Our customer database is used for customer service as well as billing purposes. The request for this kind of information helps Irish Water to identify properties for both. In the absence of postcodes in Ireland no database exists of exact locations of the name and address for every property in the country.

“Obviously we want the correct metered bill to be sent to the correct customer. But equally, if a burst occurs or there is another service issue at a customers home we also need to know the exact location of that home to help us identify and solve the cause of the problem.

“Local knowledge, specific descriptions of a house or entrance, and clear directions to a customers property help us to find that home without delay if a problem occurs.”

Fianna Fáil’s environment spokesperson Barry Cowen said that the story “epitomises the laughable saga that is Irish Water”.

“It seems bizarre, outlandish and laughable, but it’s too serious to laugh about. We were told that the contract was awarded because of the expertise that existed in the billing system in Bord Gáis.”

Read: Irish Water has been placed (temporarily) on the government’s balance sheet

Read: Joan Burton thinks RTÉ got a bit too excited about the water protests (but RTÉ doesn’t agree)

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
163 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Higgins
    Favourite Kevin Higgins
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:03 PM

    Modern for the 80s

    199
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PerkyBeans
    Favourite PerkyBeans
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 2:47 AM

    Was thinking the same, dull, drab, 70s hospital vibe about it,

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RI Twing
    Favourite RI Twing
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:55 PM

    ESB striding confidently into the mid 70s here

    195
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 8:03 PM

    Easy to be a smartass.

    A modern glass facade would be out of places and fake Georgian fronting would be worse.

    I think it looks quite good if you look at more than one photo.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Caoimhghín Ó Tuama
    Favourite Caoimhghín Ó Tuama
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 8:09 PM

    They would be do far better to design something very contemporary that would contrast with the Georgian architecture around, but something in the same sale and form. It would make the Georgian architecture stand out more and compliment it in a better way than what this does.

    The design is complete crap – it’s basically a really crappy imitation of Georgian architecture with what looks like really crap materials. It’s going to look horrific, especially after a few years.

    63
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hazard
    Favourite Hazard
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 12:49 PM

    Well the Germans could rebuild their old city’s after WW2 in their original manner and we should too with this beautiful street.

    I appreciate contemporary too but its best suited to rejuvenated areas like the Docklands etc. We can have both you know.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
    Favourite Wayne O'Fathaigh
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:08 PM

    Have they not done enough aesthetic damage to that street all ready?? Please do not let them ruin it anymore

    139
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PJ Long
    Favourite PJ Long
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:45 PM

    What a horrible unimaginative depressing looking building. Noting inspiring about this. Make them reinstate the Georgian facade and let them do what the want behind it!!

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bobby
    Favourite Bobby
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:32 PM

    €150 million for a bland looking building. Would fit in well in the 80s. Don’t you ever learn? Hopefully the planners will block this. They construct buildings in London 40 floors plus for less then €150 million.

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 8:05 PM

    You realize how big the building is yes?

    150 million sounds about right for a very large city center building which is extremely high tech. A standard office block would be a BER of C or D.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J. Dunn
    Favourite J. Dunn
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 2:12 AM

    How long have you been in the employ of Grafton Architects?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pierce2020
    Favourite Pierce2020
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:30 PM

    Yeah because the ESB really needs to be in prime Dublin spot, how about a industrial estate in Athlone instead

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal Kelliher
    Favourite Micheal Kelliher
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 7:15 PM

    There was a terrible idea if you have 2,000 ESB existing staff commuting to Athlone every day.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Graham
    Favourite Adam Graham
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:11 PM

    That is shocking, someone needs to pop down to the Academy on Pearse st to see how its done…

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richie Aprile
    Favourite Richie Aprile
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:37 PM

    Someone please stop these stupid clowns from doing even more damage. Please because I’m sick of it.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute johngahan
    Favourite johngahan
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 7:25 PM

    This has got to be a joke.

    The need to move out to CityWest or somewhere equivalent and restore the disgusting damage they’ve done to the Georgian neighbourhood they have destroyed.

    As employees on such comfortable remuneration, pension and perks packages in the State, they don’t also need to be sitting in prime city centre historic real estate and destroying it at the same time.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 8:07 PM

    Yes we should endeavor too see the Georgian areas of our city deteriorate even further. Since all the lawyers and consultants are leaving Merrion square already we can convert the entire area into card clubs, casinos, brothels and cheap apartments.

    What a great idea!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thefunnyman
    Favourite thefunnyman
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:39 PM

    That design is brutal looking to be honest but how would this thread go if the ESB where to spend the money designing something fancy.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kingstown
    Favourite kingstown
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 8:01 PM

    Another spectacular piece of architectural shite

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John B
    Favourite John B
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:15 PM

    Wow, that plan looks amazing. So amazing in fact you have my full permission to increase our electricity bill to pay for this.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 7:16 PM

    Ugggllleeeee!

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid O'Connell
    Favourite Diarmuid O'Connell
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 8:26 PM

    Ugly as sin.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jangles
    Favourite Jangles
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:19 PM

    Meh

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Delivers
    Favourite Brian Delivers
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 6:24 PM

    They can work put of portacabins.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor O Neill
    Favourite Conor O Neill
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 9:29 PM

    You already butchered the street 50 years ago and all your attempts to recreate the old look of the street (which never would have alleviated the architectural vandalism by knocking it down in the first place) have been half arsed. Something a bit bold, modern and contemporary would have been better. This is painfully dull and too much like the bland trash built during the boom when making a quick buck was more important than any form of aesthetics.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mindfulirish
    Favourite Mindfulirish
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 9:16 PM

    Please Please get a British firm of conservation architects to design it by incorporating their neighbours properties. We have destroyed our city with our planners and architects who seem dead set on ruining our Georgian Capitol City . We seem to want to keep doing the same thing over and over again with the same result — dreadful planning and dreadful buildings.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid
    Favourite Diarmuid
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 9:16 PM

    That’s pretty ugly.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Bowe
    Favourite Pat Bowe
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 7:26 AM

    Please stop this it looks awful. Why don’t the ESBi move to some industrial estate and build this design. Please DCC se something of our city you already made a terrible mistake with these buildings. ESB are arrogant enough to go ahead and have too much money to care about the City

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mindfulirish
    Favourite Mindfulirish
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 2:31 AM

    Christ almighty have the Architects been paid for this? If so then stop it now before it goes any further. Have we learned anything in the past few years, these guys with their own bloody institute giving themselves awards for buildings which really should be demolished eg the building on Merrion Row opposite O Donoghues, Civic Offices, Central Bank, 90% of O’ Connell Street, etc.
    It must be corruption as nobody in their right mind would propose a building like this in a Georgian Area. It would fit in well in Ballymount Industrial Est. as an office HQ.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr Kelly
    Favourite Mr Kelly
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 9:52 PM

    Looks pissh

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr Kelly
    Favourite Mr Kelly
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 10:03 PM

    They have simply looked at the existimg building and said “let’s improve on this style”. No no no no no. Please look outside of the box. These clowns were told what to design.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Saunders
    Favourite David Saunders
    Report
    Jul 11th 2014, 11:22 PM

    Reinstate the original facade.the ESB made a mess of the street.in the past so why trust them to do better now

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob White
    Favourite Rob White
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 10:32 AM

    Is there a way for us to complain and stop this?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Biscuit
    Favourite Brian Biscuit
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 12:07 AM

    Rotten

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rose Power
    Favourite Rose Power
    Report
    Jul 12th 2014, 10:22 AM

    For a hundred and fifty million I’d build a fecking tardis and take whoever designed that blot on the landscape back to the seventies where they belong

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Next upNext up:
      News in 60 seconds