Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether local authorities should cover the costs of individual water meters on farms in view of the Government's stance on water conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6775/07]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the cost of water meter installation in County Mayo should be borne by his Department in view of their fragmented nature and taking into account the multiple numbers which will be required in many cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6066/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 544 together.

Local authorities are required to recover from non-domestic water consumers all costs incurred in the provision of water services to those consumers. The application of the polluter pays principle, as required by the EU Water Framework Directive, entails the metering of non-domestic consumers so that a volumetric charge can be applied, with the cost of meter installation being borne by the metered consumers.

In response to concerns expressed by farming representatives in relation to the cost of metering and following a pilot billing project in one local authority area, I arranged for billing guidance to issue to local authorities in December 2006 to including a request that authorities consider the necessity for special discounting arrangements in the case of multiple water meters on fragmented small farm holdings. The guidance recommends that the total metering charge in such instances should not exceed 180% of the cost of the first connection irrespective of the number of meters. This represents a significant concession to farm holders with fragmented holdings.