John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the instructions he issued to the Irish Farmers Association in relation to the implementation of the installation of water meters; if consultations took place; if the IFA agreed to participate in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21542/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Farmers' Association was one of a number of organisations and bodies consulted by my Department in 1999 on proposals being developed for the application of the polluter pays principle to water and waste water services.

The Association indicated inter alia their view that charging for water and waste water services should be based on the use of these services by the individuals, companies or households concerned and that the programme of installing metered services on all users should be expedited.

The metering of non-domestic users by the end of 2006 is being progressed as part of the Government's water pricing policy. Sanitary authorities are currently advancing implementation of the metering programme within their areas and I expect the metering programme for non-domestic users will be substantially completed by the end of 2006.