Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 305: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to reverse the derogation it currently has from the European Union in relation to domestic water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18765/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive requires Member States to have in place water pricing policies to provide adequate incentives for users to use water services efficiently. Article 9 also states that a Member State shall not be in breach of the Directive if it decides, in accordance with established practices at the time of adoption of the Directive, not to apply the provisions of Article 9 for a given water use. The Government's Water Pricing Policy at the time of the adoption of the Directive in October 2000, which required local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes, was considered to be consistent with the requirements of Article 9.

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. It will be based on a system where households are allocated a free basic allowance, with charging only for water use in excess of this allowance. I will be bringing proposals to Government on this matter in the coming weeks.