Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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572. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on increasing the free domestic water allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36936/14]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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589. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if persons with a water softener system in place at their property will receive an increased allowance in their water allocation as a result of costs they have incurred to improve the quality of their water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37128/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 589 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 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 has today issued a determination on the water charges plan and details are available on the CER website ().

In making its determination on the water charges plan, the CER had to 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.

Under the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for repair and maintenance of the internal water distribution system from the main stopcock to the house and within the house rests with the homeowner. However, the Government has agreed to provide additional funding to Irish Water for their capital investment to include a free first fix scheme. As part of the water charges plan, approved today by the CER, customers will be capped at the relevant unmetered charge for an initial period after their water meter is installed. This will ensure that those with meters installed, and an identified leak external to the dwelling, will not be penalised pending the carrying out of the first fix.

Irish Water has recently submitted a draft first fix policy to the CER for approval. It is understood that the CER intend to hold a public consultation in advance of a decision and implementation of this scheme i n January 2015.