Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

213. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the changes that have been implemented to Irish Water since the confidence and supply arrangement; if there are plans for changes to be implemented in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40866/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In line with the “Confidence and Supply Arrangement” agreed with Fianna Fáil in the context of supporting a minority government, the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016 provided for the suspension of domestic water charges for a period of nine months from 1 July 2016. During the period of suspension, no Irish Water customers will receive bills for domestic water charges. This period is to allow for an extensive deliberative process to be undertaken on the enduring funding model for domestic public water services which will culminate in an Oireachtas vote on the matter by the end of March 2017. The “Arrangement” clearly states that those who have paid their water bills to date will be treated no less favourably than those who have not and people remain liable for unpaid domestic water charges and arrears of water charges incurred by households remain to be discharged. Pending the outcome of the Oireachtas decision on the funding of domestic water services, it is not possible to determine what financial implications may arise for Irish Water post March 2017; the financial implications arising from the suspension of water charges up to March 2017 have already been addressed by the Government.