Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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584. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the responsibility for paying a water tax bill falls on a landlord when the tenant defaults on payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37115/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge customers in respect of the services provided. 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 Act defines the customer as the occupier of the premises in respect of which the water services are provided. It also provides, unless the contrary is proved, that the owner of a premises is also the occupier of the premises. Irish Water is currently undertaking a customer verification exercise to obtain the details of customers in receipt of services from Irish Water. In order to identify occupiers of property who are not the owners for billing purposes, Irish Water can utilise the powers that are provided to it in the water services legislation and it must also ensure it acts in accordance with data protection legislation.

The Act also requires that Irish Water prepare codes of practice on a range of matters, including standards in relation to the performance of its functions and the billing of persons in respect of water services provided. The CER recently held a public consultation which covered a range of issues, including a number of proposed payment options. The CER has today issued a determination on the water charges plan and details are available on the CER website ().

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