Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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557. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on students who are paying for student accommodation and are now being asked by their landlords to pay water charges. [40267/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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. The Act defines a customer as the occupier of the premises in receipt of water services. As such, third level students who have moved away from home to an alternative primary residence will be liable for water charges, Management companies of student accommodation are already categorised as non-domestic customers for water services. Local authorities, acting as agents of Irish Water, have continued to bill such companies that recover this cost via the fees charged for the accommodation. Students who are tenants in private rented accommodation will be liable for water charges, similar to other utility supplies, but will also be eligible to claim the household allowance being provided by Irish Water.