Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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1504. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce additional domestic free water allowances for students over the age of 18 in full-time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33318/14]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1508. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will set out the charges Irish Water intends to levy upon applicants for planning permission for a residential or commercial development which requires a connection to the public water and-or sewerage mains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33386/14]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1509. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the age limit to qualify as a child under Irish Water billing arrangements. [33389/14]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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1574. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter regarding water charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34352/14]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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1621. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding the free water allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34860/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1504, 1508, 1509, 1574 and 1621 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 proposed approach to charging was outlined by Irish Water in a water charges plan which it has submitted to the CER in line with the provisions of the Act. The CER recently held a public consultation on this plan which covered a range of issues relating to water charges and allowances. The CER is currently reviewing submissions received on the consultation and a determination will be made by the CER later this month. Full details of the CER public consultation are available on .

In making its decision on the approval or otherwise of the water charges plan, the CER must take account of the decisions made by the Government on the funding model for Irish Water and a direction made under Section 42 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act in July 2014. This policy direction addressed a number of matters relating to domestic water charges including the provision of a free allowance of 30,000 litres of water supplied and waste water treated per annum for a primary residence on a public supply and 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 the child benefit allowance while customers with specific medical conditions which require increased water consumption will have their charges capped. There are no plans to provide additional allowances, other than those announced in the Government decision.

The CER intends to hold a public consultation on a new connection charging policy for customers of Irish Water later this year. Pending the outcome of this consultation, Irish Water will continue to levy connection charges on customers requiring such services at rates equivalent to the water and wastewater related development levies which the local authorities applied as at 31 December 2013.