Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 978: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the introduction of water charges will improve the financing of local government and improve its local democracy. [11904/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Government policy since 1998 has been to charge non domestic users for water services and to exempt from water charges water services used by households for ordinary domestic purposes. That policy has been accommodated in Article 9 of the EU Water Framework Directive and is reflected in our water services legislation. Accordingly, the extension of water charges to the domestic sector does not arise.