Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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550. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a water charges allowance will be provided to students in third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49229/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Capped annual charges are set at €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households, including those households comprising of third level students. All eligible households will receive a water conservation grant of €100 per year. In effect, this means that the net cost to single adult households will be no more than €60; for other households it will be no more than €160. The overall package of measures being put in place is designed to make the water charging regime more affordable and to provide clarity and certainty to households. Metered usage can lead to lower charges than the relevant capped charge; the Children’s Water Allowance remains at 21,000 litres per annum and will apply to all persons resident in the dwelling aged under 18 (irrespective of whether the child qualifies for Child Benefit), meaning children will continue to go free.

In terms of payment, all households, including third level students, will be able to avail of a range of easy pay options, including direct debits, electronic funds transfer, payment by cash at any retail outlet with a paypoint or payzone sign or a post office where a bill can be paid in full or part payments of a minimum of €5 can be made.

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 or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.