Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

23. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government relating to the composite connection charge levied by Irish Water since 1 January 2014, which was intended to replace the income stream from water and wastewater development contributions, if such charges are appealable under planning legislation; if such charges exist outside the present planning regime; if so, if the ability of Irish Water to vary the rate of such charges, outside of democratic oversight and mandate, is consistent with European law, considering they relate to the development of the natural and built environments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9083/15]

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

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 in accordance with a water charges plan to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). 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.

Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges plan may make provision for a charge in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to or in respect of any 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 the arrangements that were in place in each Local Authority as on 31 December 2013, including an amount equivalent to the water and waste water development levies which local authorities were formerly entitled to charge.

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.