Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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503. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way in which he proposes to put the onus of responsibility on homeowners to identify a problem with their water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1105/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to 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 this metering programme.

As part of the metering programme, my Department, in conjunction with Irish Water, is currently working on a proposal regarding customer-side leakage. Implementation arrangements have yet to be worked out with Irish Water. Full details on the approach to addressing customer-side leakage will be announced in advance of the introduction of the charges.