James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he will put in place to ensure correct accountability and transparency will apply with regard to public water services and its funding particularly as from 1 January 2007 local authorities will introduce metering charges on all non-domestic water use; if he will introduce an office of regulator armed with appropriate powers to ensure efficient monitoring and administration of this charge system; where the previous water pricing framework will stand following the introduction of the new metering policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24496/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The metering of all non-domestic water use and the charging of non-domestic users according to actual consumption is being advanced by sanitary authorities in accordance with the Government's water pricing policy for implementation by end 2006. These new arrangements will replace fixed water charges and relate water bills more transparently to usage, thus more strongly incentivising water conservation.

Metering is the most appropriate mechanism to achieve equity in the application of non-domestic water charges. It is a matter for each authority to set appropriate charges for non-domestic users of water services on a non-profit cost recovery basis only.

Considerable support and guidance has already been provided by my Department to sanitary authorities in the development and implementation of the Government's water services pricing policy; this role of support and oversight will be formalised further under the provisions of the Water Services Bill, currently before the Dáil. Against this background, it is not proposed to establish a stand-alone regulator for the water services sector.