Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities was established under the programme for Government and the confidence and supply arrangement. To date, the whole issue of Irish Water's connection charging policy has not been agreed. I am sure that, as Meath Deputies, the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, and Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, will be acutely aware that Irish Water is charging what it likes for water and sewerage services. I would describe the charges as exorbitant, extortionate and punitive. I have one example from the Ministers' county whereby a family built a home for a severely disabled 26 year old daughter and, having paid the levies we all know about to the local authority, subsequently got a bill for €18,200 for water and sewerage connections within 3 m and 6 m of their property. That is just one example of what is going on. It is water charges by the back door. What steps are being taken to ensure the framework that was agreed, whereby there would be a standard charge, is adhered to? In this case, the figure was subsequently reduced by Irish Water, when it was approached, to something in the order of €10,500. This is still €3,500 more than what the local authority was charging in 2014. The issue has to be tackled.

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