Written answers

Thursday, 27 February 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water Charges Introduction

Photo of Luke FlanaganLuke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a well for domestic water use is liable for a surcharge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10089/14]

Photo of Martin HeydonMartin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the decision to be finalised on the way those who will not have water meters installed will be treated; the way their initial charges will be assessed and when this will be communicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10264/14]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 169 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 this metering programme. The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water will be responsible for the collection of water charges from households and also provides that responsibility for the economic regulation of the water sector, including the setting of charges, be assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers.

As the metering programme will still be underway when charges are introduced, an appropriate approach to charging customers who are not metered at that stage will be put in place. This will be structured in such a way as to ensure that it represents a reasonable proxy for usage and is fair. The CER has indicated that in April 2014 it will be carrying out a number of public consultation s including the approach to the design of domestic water tariffs for both metered and unmetered properties. The CER will announce its decision on the approved level of water charges in August 2014.

Households served by private wells will not be metered as part of the metering programme and will not be subject to water charges by Irish Water.

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