Mr. Paul McGowan:

I will kick off. On medical conditions it is important to point out that we will take a list of medical conditions and exemptions will apply in those cases. We are not experts and it is not our role to decide on the conditions.

I will ask Ms Mannion to respond to the question on how the free allowance is defined. My understanding is that it relates to those in receipt of child benefit. That is how the definition is determined.

On quality and how the rebate will be managed, we will seek proposals from Irish Water but we will expect that rebates will kick in quickly and there would not be too long of a waiting period once it is decided that one’s water is not fit for human consumption. Ms Mannion will be able to provide more information on the issue. Ultimately, we will set down the rules by which rebates will be determined. If a customer feels that Irish Water has not complied with them he or she can complain to Irish Water and if he or she does not get the expected answer or he or she is unhappy with the response then ultimately a complaint can be made to us.

We would not give particular recommendations on water harvesting. What we will do is work with Irish Water through, for example, our research and development fund, and its obligation to give information on water conservation to customers. Ultimately, this is about water conservation so even water charging based on metered consumption is a water conservation measure of itself. As with various other ideas such as, for example, a schools programme, those are the type of things we would encourage Irish Water to work on and develop proposals. We will give it an allowance for a certain amount of research and development but there will be other agencies it can work with in that regard. That is certainly something we would promote as part of the overall package of water regulation, and for Irish Water to engage with the water customer.

To be clear, it is not a case of accelerated metering of apartments, it is an accelerated roll out of metering to those who rainwater harvest and who want to avail of the advantage that gives. Where there is a pocket of them they would be grouped and they would get priority meters.

In relation to the metering of apartments generally, this is currently an issue in terms of how it can be done. It is a matter that is being examined and in time we hope that proposals would be introduced to allow for metering of all premises. It is currently envisaged that in the first metering programme that is being set out that all residences will have a meter. As of now, certain residences cannot have a meter but we are seeking to resolve the issue in the long term.

We have good links with the Northern Ireland water regulator because it is the energy regulator there too and we deal with it every day. It does not have a domestic water charge as it receives direct funding.