Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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412. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has had with other Departments in respect of the introduction of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17866/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of domestic water charges as part of wider reforms of water services provision. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Government has also decided that Irish Water, the new State-owned water company established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. All Departments were consulted in relation to these matters in advance of these decisions. My Department remains in regular contact with a number of Government Departments in relation to various aspects of the water reform programme.