Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is a significant moment for the country. We as a Government have made mistakes, but we now face a critical choice. Put simply, we now have a choice that is based on either short-term emotion and anger or long-term prudence and common sense. Anger is never a good starting point for any key decision. The issue of future water provision in this country needs a more sober and considered look and, unlike some in the House, I want my legacy to be one of achievement, not of destruction. We can either create the only company capable of delivering water infrastructure for our citizens or we can ignore the problems of future generations and let water shortages become a reality for all of our children. We as a Government needed to listen to the people and take stock, and we have done that.

I am pleased to have the opportunity this afternoon to set out the package of decisions made by the Government regarding a revised approach to water. I also want to set out for the House our renewed vision for Irish Water and to outline the essential role it will play in the future in delivering and managing world-class water services for our people. The key measures we will introduce and legislate for are as follows. We are setting new capped annual charges.

The capped charges will be €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households, until 1 January 2019. There will be specific legislative provision to allow for capped charges to continue to be set from 2019 onwards. All eligible households will receive a water conservation grant of €100 per year. This means that the net cost to single adult households will be €60. For other households it will be no more than €160. Households with either a water supply or sewage only service will pay 50% of the new rates.

Metered usage can bring charges below the relevant cap. The children's allowance remains at 21,000 litres per annum and will apply to all persons resident in a property aged under 18, irrespective of whether the child qualifies for child benefit, which means children will continue to have free water. For metered bills, the charge for water in or out is reduced to €3.70 per 1,000 litres, almost 25% lower than the previous subsidised rate. The system is based on self-declaration and appropriate audit. PPS numbers will not be required for registration.

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