Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services

Public Water Forum

1:30 pm

Ms Maria Graham:

I will answer the first question, which was on water poverty. I was giving averages in terms of the average charge as compared to average income. On the work that was undertaken and in terms of targeting the group, I was indicating that a universal pre-allowance for households, if it was at a sufficient level, was likely to mean that water poverty would not be an issue. If there is an excess charge, some of the other components which would have been considered included the presumption that something would be done for those who had a high medical usage. That would be factored in so that it is addressed.