Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if water charges will apply to vacant rental properties that are yielding no income and are not in use. [31185/11]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if water charges apply to vacant properties, if the owners of these properties have the right to have the water turned off. [31186/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 together.

The Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the EU/IMF includes a commitment to introduce water charges for households. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The objective is to install water meters in households connected to public water supplies and move to a charging system based on usage. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to implement these proposals and further details will be announced following the Government's consideration of the proposals.