Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

44. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will share the data, method and findings of research conducted by Irish Water that has been cited as evidence for a reduced free water allowance for children; if he will specify the full test area used, the number of meters utilised, the timeframe over which data were gathered, the precise formulae applied to the data gathered to determine a result; if he will indicate whether the findings were compared with similar studies conducted in other jurisdictions and if they were independently verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34318/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

In July 2014, a policy direction was issued to the CER in accordance with section 42 of the 2013 Act on a number of matters relating to domestic water charges including the provision of a free allowance to cover the normal usage of water services by every child in their primary residence based on the same qualifying conditions as child benefit, such that water charges will in effect only apply to adults in such households. The estimated limit was subject to verification through actual consumption data from metering.

Irish Water has now submitted to the CER the results of surveys of actual metered usage which are considered more robust and accurate than previous studies. I instructed my Department to write to Irish Water to underline the critical importance of Irish Water continuing to undertake such monitoring on a regular basis, with appropriate independent validation, to ensure that the allowance set covers the normal consumption of children. Data on consumption patterns will also be provided by Irish Water to the CER on a regular basis.

In the context of its consultation on the water charges plan submitted to the CER by Irish Water, the CER has published information on its website, , relating to the consumption surveys undertaken to determine household consumption and consumption by children. If further information is required, this can be obtained directly from Irish Water which has responsibility for all aspects of the metering programme and the consumption surveys undertaken.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives.  The team can be contacted via email to or by telephone on 1890 278 278.