Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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102. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce a free water allowance as part of the household benefits package to help persons struggling with water charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46360/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. It is a universal payment from the age of 70. The Department will spend approximately €227 million this year on the household benefits package for approximately 416,000 customers.

In Budget 2015 an initiative was announced to assist those in receipt of the Household Benefits Package and the Fuel Allowance Scheme from my Department with water costs. This would have involved a payment of €25 per quarter to approx. 660,000 customers at an estimated cost of €66 million in 2015. Subsequently, on 18 November 2014 and following a review, the Government announced changes to the domestic water charging regime, and also provided for the new water conservation grant. These changes were designed to promote affordability for households and assist with water conservation measures. The grant replaces the tax rebate and social protection measures previously announced, as it provides a more straightforward means of addressing water issues for all households on equal terms and will help reduce households' outlay on water services.

Accordingly, I have no plans to introduce a free water allowance to the household benefits package. Any decision to so do would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.