Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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119. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46443/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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121. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of Irish Water registration packs that were returned with the personal public service number included prior to the introduction of the new measures on 19 November 2014. [46461/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together.

In advance of the introduction of water charges, Irish Water sent application packs to approximately 2 million households. The objective of the application process was to enable customers to confirm their details for billing and relevant PPS numbers were requestedin order for customers to claim the allowances that they were eligible for.

On 19 November 2014, the Government decided on the introduction of a number of measures in relation to a revised approach to water charges. This was done to provide clarity and certainty and ensure that water charges are affordable for customers. As the new arrangements are based on self-declaration and appropriate audit, PPS numbers will no longer be required by Irish Water.In compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Acts, Irish Water will delete PPS data already collected during the customer registration process to protect customers’ data. Irish Water has developed a protocol in consultation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to address this data deletion exercise.My Department does not have any information on the number of application packs that have been returned with the PPS number included prior to 19 November.

To implement the changed charging regime, and to provide those households who have yet to register with an opportunity to respond to the Irish Water customer registration campaign, so that they may avail of the new benefits and to receive accurate bills, it will be important to register by 2 February 2015. Customers who have already responded to the registration process are not required to do anything further in relation to this.Anyone who has already responded to Irish Water can contact the organisation by phone at 1890 448 448 to advise of changes or updates to their previous response.

The Water Services Bill 2014, which was published yesterday, provides that where a customer of Irish Water does not register with Irish Water, they shall be liable for a charge of €260 for each year until such time that they have registered.  The Bill also provides for the payment of an annual water conservation grant ; however,w here the occupier of a dwelling has not provided details of their water supply and waste water services to Irish Water , he or she will not be eligible for the grant. The Bill also provides for the removal of the power of Irish Water to use PPS numbers – this section will be commenced when the data deletion exercise is completed.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide.

The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ieor by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.