Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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511. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that perspective tenants, particularly students, are being forced by landlords to pay money upfront in respect of Irish Water bills for water not yet used; if he will, in order to protect tenants, direct Irish Water to make a clear public statement on this issue indicating that landlords are not entitled to collect money on the company's behalf and that tenants should not be asked for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43127/14]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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512. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the billing of tenants, including students, for water charges and the fact that some landlords have raised rents and informed tenants that the reason they are doing so is because of water charges. [43130/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 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.

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, continue to bill non-domestic customers and therefore continue to bill such companies who 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.

Irish Water is currently undertaking a customer verification exercise to obtain the details of customers in receipt of services from Irish Water. This process gives tenants, including students, the opportunity to apply and avail of their relevant allowances and this will continue until the deadline date for applications which has been extended to 30 November 2014. After this date Irish Water has advised my Department that it intends to initiate a further campaign to allow landlords to provide proof that their property is occupied by a tenant and that they are not the occupant. This will remove liability from the landlord in compliance with Section 21(5) of the Act.