Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Members who contributed to this debate last night and today. As the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, outlined last night, the Government cannot support the Bill tabled by Deputy Cowen. We appreciate that the intention of the Bill is to provide discounts for customers affected by sub-standard water supplies. However, as the Minister outlined last night, the legislative and policy framework put in place by the Government already provides a very robust and flexible system to ensure that Irish Water's customers are protected, and arrangements to provide discounts for customers affected by sub-standard water supplies are at an advanced stage.

The CER has been given the role of independent economic regulator for Irish Water, and its primary statutory purpose is to ensure the protection of customers' interests. This is underpinned in statute. Section 39(1) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that the commission shall perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of customers of Irish Water. Section 21 of this same Act provides that Irish Water's charges are subject to the approval of the regulator. In July, the CER undertook public consultation on Irish Water's charges to provide the public, and public representatives, with an opportunity to make their views known before the approval of the final plan toward the end of this month. Among the measures announced were proposals to address the very issue dealt with in this Bill.

Section 42 of the 2013 Act provides that the Minister for the Environment may issue a general policy direction to the CER. A policy direction was issued by the previous Minister to the CER in July 2014, taking account of decisions the Government had taken in regard to allowances, customer protection and affordability. In its consultation documents, the CER proposed that households in receipt of a restricted supply for more than three months would receive a 100% discount on their water supply charge, with those under restrictions for less than three months receiving a 50% discount. As the Minister stated last night, the effect of these proposals would be that all households currently on long-term boil-water notices would be eligible for the 100% discount from 1 October. Details of the final arrangements for the discounts to be applied will be announced by the CER as part of its determination of the overall water charges plan.

This is expected by the end of this month.

There are, regrettably, more than 25,000 people on public water supplies which are the subject of some form of restriction, including boil water notices. As part of its statutory monitoring responsibilities, where Irish Water, in consultation with the Health Service Executive, HSE, considers that a water supply is a potential risk to human health, it is required to ensure that the supply of such water is prohibited or its use is restricted and that consumers are informed promptly and given the necessary advice. Irish Water is taking action in this regard by prioritising drinking water quality as its main priority in its first interim investment plan, including an urgent focus on the provision of water treatment plants in County Roscommon and an action plan to address other water supply schemes in need of investment.

Although not directly relevant to Deputy Cowen's Bill, I wish to address an issue that was mentioned in the debate last night and in earlier exchanges yesterday. In the application packs that Irish Water has begun to send out, it is asking householders to provide their personal public service, PPS, numbers, including in respect of children. The purpose of this is to ensure that the free water allowance for primary residences and the additional allowance in respect of children's use of water that the Government is providing are allocated appropriately. Under section 20 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014, Irish Water is a specified body and is allowed to request PPS numbers to authenticate the identity of the person being provided with an allowance. It has stated its commitment to comply with all data protection legislation requirements.

I acknowledge Deputy Stanley's comments last night regarding the misinformation that is being peddled to the public about possible ways of avoiding water charges. It is important that this House condemns any irresponsible actions being advocated in regard to legislation that has been approved by the Oireachtas. I have seen public representatives encouraging non-payment not only of water charges but also of the local property tax. Indeed, some held public meetings to encourage this across the country, and then deserted those people. I believe that is totally irresponsible.

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