Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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459. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the guidelines that have been issued to Irish Water in respect of the depth water meters are to be laid to as measured from the finished ground level to the top of the water main; if there are different standards in trafficked or non-trafficked areas; in the event that thermal insulation is to be used to prevent pipes freezing, the standards that have been set; in the event that the standard has been reduced from that set in the existing building standards, the building standard that will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40498/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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476. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the accessibility features for severely vision-impaired persons that were specified in the recent procurement contract for water meters; if this contract is illegal as it contravenes the Disability Act 2005 which states that every statutory authority has obligations to ensure that the procurement of any equipment or services intended for use by the general public must be accessible, or at the very least, consultations and a subsequent report into matters of accessibility must be concluded to show the reason such accessibility is being denied and the action he will take regarding same. [40989/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose taking Questions Nos. 459 and 476 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.

Part G of the Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents provides that the underground service pipe from the external meter/stopcock to the dwelling has a minimum cover of 600mm. The boundary boxes that will be installed will have 'frost plugs' to provide insulation from surface freezing conditions.