Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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440. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if water charges will be imposed on persons who have sourced their own water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18545/14]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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442. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the introduction of a standing charge by Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18552/14]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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444. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the water metering of apartments; when this is likely to commence; if it will be possible to have individual metering for all units in an apartment block; when this is likely to be completed; if persons living in apartments will be charged before then; and if so, the way in which this will be done. [18606/14]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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446. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government under what process can a housing estate apply for an exemption from water charges for a set period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18649/14]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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465. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the benefits water charges will provide local communities with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18985/14]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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469. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he and Irish Water will clarify if the proposed flat rate water charge will apply to persons who own and operate their own private water wells; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19067/14]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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472. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if any provision will be made by Irish Water for cases where water consumption is likely to be higher than a comparable family unit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19103/14]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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489. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the position in respect of water charges, standard charges, and so on; the implications it will have for farmers who have existing meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19423/14]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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522. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the free allowances that will be made available for persons with an inability to pay their water charges (details supplied). [19699/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 440, 442, 444, 446, 465, 469, 472, 489 and 522 together.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. 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 Government has committed to the provision of a free allowance, above which charging based on usage would apply. Charges for customers who are not metered will be structured in such a way as to ensure that it represents a reasonable proxy for usage and is fair.

Local authorities are in the final stages of a pre-installation survey of households connected to public water supplies. The survey is providing information to Irish Water on the properties that can be metered. The intention is that a meter will be installed in any household connected to a public water supply where it is technically feasible to do so. Where a suitable boundary box for a water meter has already been installed in a property, this will be identified in the survey. Irish Water has also recently commissioned a study on possible approaches to metering properties that are not part of the current metering programme, including apartments and properties with shared service connections. The findings of this report are currently being assessed by my Department.

Irish Water will not collect charges from any households not connected to a public water supply. 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. There is no process in place where a housing estate can apply for an exemption from water charges for a set period of time. The approach to charging will be outlined by Irish Water in a water charges plan to be submitted by it to the CER in line with the provisions of the Act. The CER will be responsible for approving the water charges plan which will set the approaches to charging domestic and non-domestic customers. The CER will announce its decision on the approved wat er charges plan, which will include details of the levels of metered, assessed and standing charges, in August 2014.

The CER commenced public consultations on the approach to the structure of domestic water services tariffs (for both metered and unmetered properties) and non-domestic water services tariffs on 17 April 2014. Further consultations are planned for June in relation to the water charges plan to be submitted to the CER by Irish Water. Full details of the CER’s public consultation plans are available on its website ().

In making its decision on the approval or otherwise of the first water charges plan, the CER will take into account the decisions made by Government on th e funding model for Irish Water. The free allowance and the level of funding to be provided by the Government to Irish Water will have a strong bearing on the net charges to be met by households. Consequently, decisions on these matters will provide greater visibility on the expected level of charges in advance of the final determination of all aspects of the water charges plan by the CER. Proposals on these matters are currently under consideration by the Government. Part of this consideration will be the appropriate method for addressing affordability issues which may arise with the introduction of domestic water charges, particularly for households with high usage due to medical needs.

Water charges bring a number of benefits to communities including the security of a public drinking water supply, increased investment in water treatment and waste water treatment, greater environmental sustainability, increased efficiencies through the creation of Irish Water. The reform of water services delivery will also support economic growth and the creation of employment.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ieor by telephone on 1890 278 278.