Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of consolidated water meter charges for each local authority area here for the year 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42560/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the difference between consolidated water and waste charges and water only charges in view of local authority water charges; if he will provide a breakdown of the percentage of users that opt for one charge or the other; the circumstances in which a user would require water only charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42606/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 422 together.

Under the Government's water pricing policy, local authorities are required to recover the costs of providing water services from non domestic users of these services.

A water services charge is levied for the provision of drinking water and is based on volumetric use. A programme of work to install water meters for all non domestic users will be completed by the end of 2009. A waste water charge is levied based on the water in/water out principle, an internationally recognised approach for charging for waste water services. The consolidated charge is levied on non domestic customers who are in receipt of both water and waste water services from the local authority.

The Department does not hold any information on the number or percentage of customers that have opted for one service only. A charge for water, only, would arise where a customer is connected to the public water supply but is not connected to the local authority's waste water infrastructure.

Details of the consolidated water and waste water charge for each local authority area for 2009 are set out in the following table. Consolidated charge for water and waste water services (per cubic meter)

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide clarification on the exempted dwellings from the recently introduced €200 levy for second homes. [42570/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 provides for a charge on all non-principal private residences set at €200 per annum which is payable by owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential property that is not the owner's sole of main residence. The Act is structured with a starting position of a universal liability for residential property in respect of the charge. It then exempts certain buildings and owners from this liability, the most significant exemption being where a property is occupied by the owner as his or her sole or main residence on the liability date.

Other exemptions include buildings that are newly constructed but unsold and which form part of the trading stock of a business; buildings with heritage merit; buildings let directly or indirectly by local authorities for social housing purposes or which are the subject of a shared ownership arrangement with a local authority; buildings let by voluntary bodies; and buildings in respect of which commercial rates are payable. In addition, an exemption applies where a person purchases a property for use as a principal private residence, provided that that person disposes of the original property within six months of the annual liability date, and where a former spouse has an interest in a property following a divorce or separation but no longer resides there. Exemptions are also included for a situation where a relative of the owner lives rent-free in a property, as long as the property is within two kilometres of the owner's residence, and where a person is forced to vacate his or her home through long-term physical or mental incapacitation.