Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for responding to the amendment. If tenants of a voluntary housing association or housing body such as the housing section of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul do not remit their water charges, I take it that the Government will deduct it from the housing application grant. In effect, housing bodies are being made responsible for collecting the charge. How will they go about that if the tenant will not or cannot pay? The Government is adding another layer of collection for the water charge.

We will push the amendment. It is inappropriate for such housing bodies to be used as a collection agent on behalf of a large semi-state company such as Irish Water. Could the Minister of State clarify the position? If a housing association does not remit the full amount required from the tenant, will it be deducted from its grant in the following year?