Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the information available to his Department regarding the EU requirement for the introduction of water meters into residential homes and the imposition of water charges on householders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5604/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Article 9.1 of the EU Water Framework Directive requires Member States to take account of the principle of water services cost recovery, including environmental and resource costs, in accordance with the polluter pays principle. In Ireland this requirement is implemented in relation to the non-domestic sector on the basis of recovery of all non-domestic water services costs, from non-domestic users of the services through water charges.

In relation to the domestic sector, the full costs of providing water and waste water services for domestic users continues to be met by the exchequer and funded in a transparent way through the capital budget of my Department and, in the case of operational costs through the Local Government Fund. A prohibition on domestic water charges is provided for in Irish legislation.

As a consequence, there is no requirement on local authorities to meter domestic water supplies, other than in a situation of a water services consumer using water for both domestic and non-domestic purposes.