Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if provision will be made for social welfare recipients to pay their water charges through the household budget scheme with An Post. [39179/14]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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333. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if an easy pay card will be available to customers of Irish Water to allow them to pay their water charges over time. [39180/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 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 shall 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 its water charges plan, Irish Water has outlined a range of payment options for its customers. The company has confirmed to my Department that it will be introducing an easy pay card in due course. In the meantime, customers will be able to present their bill repeatedly to make regular payments at paypoint or payzone outlets or at any post office. Irish Water has also advised my Department that it is examining the possibility of using the Household Budget Scheme, in relation to the payment of water charges, in consultation with the Department of Social Protection.

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