Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am replying on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly. I thank Deputy Terence Flanagan for raising this very topical issue. The Water Services Act 2013, which provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann group, assigned the company the necessary powers to allow it to undertake the metering programme. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers who are in receipt of water services provided by it. Water meters used for domestic billing must comply with the EU measuring instrument directive, which sets standards of accuracy. This directive is implemented in Ireland by means of the 2007 legal metrology regulations. The legal metrology service of the National Standards Authority of Ireland is the statutory body responsible for regulating and supervising weights and measures, including meters, in Ireland.

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Irish Water has confirmed to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that all the water meters in use by Irish Water comply with the Measuring Instruments Directive. It has also confirmed that the meters being installed as part of the metering programme are designed so it will be possible for the householder to read the meter.

Most meters for public utilities are located at the point where the connection enters the household. In the case of water services, under the provisions of the Water Services Act 2007, households' pipes internal to the boundary of a property are considered the responsibility of the householder and thus water meters are generally fitted at the stopcock at the boundary of the property. As this is located on publicly accessible land, it minimises disruption during both the installation and the reading of meters as access to people's homes is not required.

Meters will be read automatically and the information will be provided directly to customers in their bills. Each water meter has a low-power radio unit fixed to the top which enables it to be read periodically from a passing van. This is what is known as automatic meter reading or AMR. The metering technology being employed by Irish Water also includes a constant flow alarm which will alert Irish Water where there appears to be a leak on a property. Irish Water in turn will alert the affected household of the possible leak. Householders with a meter installed will be provided with a reading of their meter as part of their bill and any unusual usage patterns can be discussed with Irish Water if the householder is concerned. As such, it is not anticipated that the householder will need to read the meter. However, as the meter boxes are not sealed it will be possible for a customer to access the meter to verify readings or to monitor consumption.

Irish Water is putting in place a number of facilities for customers who require special or priority services. This includes the compilation of a confidential special services register for customers who prefer to have some of the services adapted to suit their needs and a confidential priority services register for domestic customers who have a critical medical dependency on water. The special arrangements put in place for the visually impaired have been developed in consultation with the National Disability Association. Information on how to read the meter has been included in customer communications. Irish Water has also contacted all of its customers and asked that householders with disability, mobility or medical concerns contact its call centre in advance of the meter installation so any additional support or advice can be arranged.

It is also important to note that the Government has established the Commission for Energy Regulation, the CER, as the independent economic regulator for Irish Water. In addition to approving the charges levied by Irish Water, the CER has a wider role in protecting and representing the interests of Irish Waters' customers. The Water Services (No. 2) Act provides that the CER must perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of customers of Irish Water.

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