Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he or his officials have met with the Department of the Environment in relation to the impact that water metering will have on small businesses particularly those that do not have water rates at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20943/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Water metering and water charges for business have been in place for a number of years. The process enables businesses to contribute towards the cost of water provision, as well as providing them with a mechanism to monitor and control their water usage and reduce waste of the resource.

Current proposals in relation to the introduction of domestic water metering should not impact negatively on business. If anything, broadening the base of water charges to include a contribution from domestic users should help businesses by spreading the burden of contributions, further reducing wastage and enabling the relevant water authority to use increased revenue to upgrade supply.

It is important that we reduce the costs of doing business in every way possible in order to improve the competitiveness of the economy and support jobs. I have recently written to all of my Ministerial colleagues, with a view to identifying charges to business which can be reduced or frozen over the next two years. Their responses are being collated and I will make a further announcement shortly.