Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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913. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government where liability for payment lies with regard to Irish Water charges where the house is occupied solely by students attending third level institutions; if his attention has been drawn to the possible charging difficulties surrounding the differences between the academic year and the charging year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1149/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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 for the period they occupy the premises. 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 water conservation grant 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 register with Irish Water and avail of the water conservation grant, full details of which will be provided by my Department and the Department of Social Protection in due course.