Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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380. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the recent procurement contract for water meters may be illegal as it contravenes the Disability Act 2005, as the water meters are not accessible or user friendly for those who are visually impaired as they do not have a touch screen reader and that all public services are meant to be accessible for those with disabilities; and the steps he will take to correct same. [39183/13]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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385. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if water metering charges for households joined in group water schemes on public water lines, which are in the process of being taken over by local authority, will householders be metered separately and qualify for the concessionary allowance of water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39291/13]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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386. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way in which the new water company will handle group water schemes in respect of metering council sourced schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39294/13]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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410. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the time-frame for the installation of water meters; the reason that such a time-frame was decided on; and if he has considered installing these meters over a shorter period of time. [39732/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 380, 385, 386 and 410 together.

The Programme for Government sets out a commitment for the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. It is a matter for Irish Water to comply with all national and European legislation in the discharge of its functions.

The installation programme commenced in August 2013 and will be implemented nationally as quickly as possible. The approach to procurement has been structured by Irish Water to ensure that there are sufficient boundary boxes, meters and installation contracts available for deployment to allow for the ramping up of the programme above the initial level once work is underway. It is important that all of these works are carried out safely and to a high quality standard with the minimum disruption and I expect that Irish Water will monitor and supervise all works accordingly.

Responsibility for the administration of my Department's Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided towards the capital costs of group water schemes, and of the subsidy scheme under which funding is provided towards the operational costs of group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. My Department will remain responsible for the overall policy and funding of the non-public water sector, including the group water sector. Over the past decade, substantial improvements have been made in the group water sector, reflected in improved infrastructure and management and leading to greater compliance with drinking water standards. This has been accomplished through a partnership approach between my Department, the local authorities and the group water sector itself, with the important involvement of the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. This co-operative approach will be maintained as the reform of water services provision is progressed.

Some group water schemes currently purchase water from water services authorities. In such cases the distribution network remains under the control of the group scheme. It is not intended that there will be any change to this arrangement when Irish Water assumes the water services responsibilities of the existing 34 water service authorities.