Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to charge for the lease of water meters in respect of domestic customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47820/09]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans regarding a national water authority to manage the introduction of water charges as set out in the budget 2010; the timescale envisaged for the introduction of charges; the way in which the installation of metering systems will be financed; the systems that will be in place to monitor and maintain water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47837/09]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the revenue generated from the collection of water charges will be used to defray the cost of providing water or if it will be used for the provision of local services as stated in the budget 2010 speech; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47839/09]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the announced water meters will be funded via local authority finances or from Central Government finances; if all homes will be fitted with a water meter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48135/09]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if leakage of drinking water will be addressed before he considers imposing domestic water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48136/09]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which he intends to create efficiencies of scale in the roll out of water meters if 34 water authorities are charged with their roll out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48137/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 283, 287, 288 and 302 to 304, inclusive, together.

As stated in the reply to Question No. 336 of 15 December 2009, the Renewed Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce charges for domestic water use in a way that is fair, significantly reduces waste and is easily applied. Accordingly, I will be bringing forward proposals as a priority for the installation of water meters in households, on the basis that households will be allocated a free basic allowance, with charging only for water use in excess of this allowance.

My Department is considering a number of options in relation to both the delivery and financing of the metering programme. I will bring detailed proposals to Government early in 2010 on the approach to metering of all households on public supplies. Following the installation of water meters, which will take a number of years to complete, households will be charged for water services based on usage. The water charges will be used to fund the delivery of water services to domestic users by the local authorities.

Water conservation, which includes the management of water supply systems, active leakage control and mains rehabilitation, has been the focus of a specific sub-programme under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme. Since 2003, local authorities have spent over €130 million on these services. Water conservation works will remain a key priority under the next Investment Programme, which will cover the period 2010-2012. The metering of domestic connections will contribute to greater water conservation by facilitating enhanced network management by local authorities.

The Water Services Investment Programme is currently the subject of a Value for Money review, the objective of which is to review the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme investment and delivery, including delivery structures, and to inform the implementation of the next multi-annual rolling programme of the Investment Programme due to commence in 2010. The European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 prescribe quality standards to be applied and related supervision and enforcement procedures in relation to supplies of drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the supervision of public water supplies while local authorities are responsible for the supervision of all other water supplies within their functional area.