Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to roll out the water metering system to all properties prior to the intended imposition of water charges; the expected timeframe for this; his views on whether the cost of installing meters places a financial burden on households that is unrelated to the polluter pays principle and that an overhaul of the distribution network to cut the level of wastage would be a more cost effective and a sustainable approach to water conservation. [15933/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In December 2009, following a decision by Government, I informed the House that I would be bringing forward proposals for the installation of water meters in households served by public water supplies. These proposals, which my Department is now finalising, will give effect to the commitment in the renewed Programme for Government to introduce charging for domestic water in a way that is fair, significantly reduces waste and is easily applied. I expect to bring these proposals to Government in the coming weeks.

The proposals will include draft legislation to remove the prohibition on charging for domestic water services and will also address the arrangements for the delivery of the water metering programme, cost estimates and how these costs are to be financed, as well as plans for the development of a pricing structure for domestic water services. I will provide further details on these matters following their consideration and approval by Government.

There are in excess of 1.1 million households connected to public water supplies and the completion of the water metering programme will take a number of years. However, it is my ambition to have a significant proportion of the meters installed within two to three years of the commencement of installation works.

I am confident that the introduction of charges based on usage will encourage the conservation of water resources. Charging for water based on usage as measured by a water meter is a fair and transparent method of recovering the costs of providing water services. Reducing consumption will also help to reduce the significant costs incurred by local authorities in providing supplies of quality drinking water and treating wastewater discharged into the public sewerage system. This matter should be seen in conjunction with my announcement earlier this week of investment of some €320 million in conservation works over the period 2010-2012, which will provide for a very substantial scaling up of activity on mains rehabilitation. This significant investment in conservation is part of the overall investment of the €1.8 billion Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012.