Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a full water rate reimbursement scheme will be considered with local authorities for businesses in instances in which water supplies are cut off to them for more than 24 hours in view of the fact that a number of businesses have to close down when such water shortages take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Local authorities are responsible for setting water charges in their functional areas. The Government's water pricing policy provides for full cost recovery without profit, with charges based on actual metered consumption. The cost of providing water services to the non-domestic sector includes elements of infrastructure provision including meter installation and operation and maintenance costs and as a result the level of water charges varies from authority to authority.

A national water metering programme for purposes of supply to non domestic customers is now largely complete and the majority of non domestic users are being charged based on consumption. Such customers will not be charged for consumption in the event of a disruption where the local authority cannot provide a metered water supply.

It is matter for individual local authorities to consider offering discounts or reduced water charges for customers paying fixed charges who have been affected by recent disruptions in services.