Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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493. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for farmhouses in respect of water metering; if existing meters and allowances will continue into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7762/14]

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 (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services.

Currently, any farm connected to a public water supply is liable for charges as a non-domestic customer, with an allowance provided for domestic use. Following the introduction of domestic water charges, farms connected to public water supplies will be charged by Irish Water for both non-domestic and domestic use, subject to the free allowance to be provided to households in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.