Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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602. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will be made available for localities (details supplied) currently being provided with inferior quality drinking water due to their geological conditions but which water technically qualifies as acceptable, according to the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014; if he will address the matter; if consideration will be given to allowing connections to be made with alternative sources from superior geological locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8200/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from each customer 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 Water Charges Policy Direction issued to the CER in July 2014 referred to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges , including where the quality of water services provided by Irish Water to its customers is impaired or where services are reduced or restricted.Where customer s are subject to a drinking water restriction notice, the affected customers will receive a 100% discount to the water supply portion of their bill for the duration of the restriction. However, as neither hard water nor the substances associated with it , including lime, require the restriction of a supply, discounts would not apply in such cases.

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The further progression of all water services capital projects , whether in County Kerryor elsewhere in Ireland, is now a matter for consideration by Irish Water.

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.