John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

Senator Daly might have a job finding the hair as I do not have much left. I thank him for raising this interesting point. I also thank him for his kind comments at the outset, which were appreciated.

I advise that the Water Services Acts set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann. These services, including the water connection policy, are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, neither I, the Minister nor my Department have operational function in such matters.

The Senator rightly pointed out the role of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, as the economic regulator for Uisce Éireann. One of its roles is to ensure there is a fair and transparent system of charging for non-domestic customers. Under the Water Services Act (No.2) 2013, the CRU has the responsibility for approving the charges applied by Uisce Éireann to non-domestic customers for the provision of water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann applies charges for water services provided to non-domestic customers, including mixed-use customers. A mixed-use premises includes a part that is a dwelling and a part that is a non-domestic premises receiving a shared supply of water, for example, a water supply serving a farmhouse and a farm.Uisce Éireann has implemented a connection charging policy, which provides a standard set of non-domestic tariffs for connections to Uisce Éireann's water and wastewater networks. It provides a single, clear, transparent and fair connection charging framework. The charges are calculated in a cost-reflective manner, based on connection type. Standard connection charges apply to the majority of customers.

In April 2025, the CRU held a public consultation on proposals for new non-domestic water and wastewater tariffs to apply to its non-domestic customers commencing on 1 October 2025. The CRU is currently assessing submissions. I do not know if this review process has been formally submitted to by the IFA or other bodies, but submissions are being examined with a view to finalising the future charging mechanism.

Implementation of the water charges plan is a matter in the first instance for Uisce Éireann. I accept the points the Senator made about multiple holdings for farmers and the ability to combine them into one charge. As I will outline in my later reply, it is possible to have redundant connections removed or to have a temporary or permanent pause where connections are not required. Those applications are made to Uisce Éireann. I accept that what the Senator is saying is slightly different from that. However, farmers who do not have a need for water on their holdings should utilise that existing mechanism, which would reduce the standing charges that apply.