Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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939. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the persons and bodies responsible for paying water charges for elderly persons who live in sheltered accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19972/15]

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 can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act defines the customer as the occupier of the premises in respect of which the water services are provided.

As such, people in sheltered housing, connected to the public water or wastewater supply will be liable for water charges. Households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process will, in the case of primary dwellings, be eligible for a €100 water conservation grant, payable through the Department of Social Protection.

Management companies of sheltered housing are already categorised as a non-domestic customer for water services. Local authorities, acting as agents of Irish Water, have continued to bill such companies who recover this cost via the fees charged for the accommodation.