Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

211. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department have been informed when the Commission for Energy Regulation will finalise its decision on Irish Water's new connection charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7360/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

212. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department expect to be informed of the decision made by the Commission for Energy Regulation on new connection charges for Irish Water, before it is announced publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7361/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

213. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department will be making their views on new connection charges for Irish Water known to the Commission for Energy Regulation prior to a decision being made; if there is a process available to do same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7362/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

214. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the public consultation on the new connection charges for Irish Water will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7363/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

215. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department have received letters from local authority chief executive officers regarding the new connection fees for Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7364/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

216. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department officials have met to discuss the new connection charges for Irish Water even though it is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7365/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 216, inclusive, 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. While my Department and Irish Water are in regular engagement in relation to future capital investment, it is a matter for the CER to approve charges in respect of the provision of a service connection to or in respect of a premises.

In its decision on Irish Water's Water Charges Plan, published in October 2014, the CER stated that, until it made a decision on Irish Water's new connection charges, Irish Water should continue to apply rates equivalent to the water and wastewater related development levies which were applied by the local authorities at 31 December 2013.

The CER is currently working with Irish Water to develop a high level work plan for the year ahead and this will include the new approach to connection charges. This plan will be published in the coming weeks. A more detailed work plan outlining the consultation schedule will be published later this year. The CER has informed my Department that it will consult widely with stakeholders when considering any submission from Irish Water, and that there will be many opportunities for interested parties, including my Department, to participate in the consultations on the new connection charging policy.

I am not aware of any letters received in my Department from local authority chief executives regarding the new connection fees for Irish Water.