Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce an exemption to water charges, for households or homeowners paying development charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10597/15]

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 can 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.

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 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. There are no plans to introduce exemptions from water charges on the basis of already having paid development contributions.