Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the research he conducted into the environmental cost of the domestic water metering programme prior to that programme commencing. [21523/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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129. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the research he conducted into the environmental cost of the domestic water metering programme since that programme began. [21524/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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130. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the research he conducted to measure the environmental cost of the domestic water metering programme including the carbon footprint of same against any potential environmental benefits arising from that programme. [21525/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive, together.

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. This includes the domestic water metering programme.

The programme was initiated in August 2013, as the previous Government had determined that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water. This policy decision was informed by the likely cost of a domestic metering programme and the likely economic and environmental benefits from savings which would accrue from tackling customer side leakage and encouraging water conservation which would lead to a deferral of some capital expenditure.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.