Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding water connection charges; and his views on whether these fees are excessive. [14297/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan, to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges plan may provide for charges 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 the rates charged by the local authorities at 31 December 2013. In its Water Charges Plan Decision Paper of 5 March 2015, the CER published a list of the areas that it would be progressing, which includes the development of a connection charging policy. 

Planning authorities were requested in Circular PS 21/2013 issued by my Department on 30 December 2013 to operate revised procedures in relation to the application of development contribution levies. In respect of planning permissions granted prior to 1 January 2014, planning authorities were advised that the full development contribution charge (where such was attached as a condition of the planning permission), including, where relevant, the portion in respect of water services infrastructure, must be paid to the planning authority in accordance with the terms of the permission.

In respect of planning permissions granted after 1 January 2014, planning authorities were advised that when granting planning permission, they should no longer include a portion in respect of water services infrastructure in any development contribution applied. Such charges would be levied by Irish Water instead. Planning authorities were further advised that new development contribution schemes made after that date should not contain charges in respect of water services infrastructure.

Currently, over 900 different connection charges exist. I understand from the CER that Irish Water is currently developing proposals for a single national connection charging policy aimed at developing a more harmonised methodology for connections to the public water and wastewater networks. A single national policy on the provision of network connection services is a common model employed in other utilities in Ireland as well as internationally. The CER expects to be able to consult publicly on Irish Water's proposals in the middle of 2017 and to make a final decision by the end of 2017.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the reimbursement of Irish Water customers who are solely connected to a sewerage system and do not utilise mains water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14298/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Domestic water charges are currently suspended. Under the 'confidence and supply' arrangement between the Government and Fianna Fáil agreed in the context of supporting a minority government, the Oireachtas has established a Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. It is tasked with examining the recommendations of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services and endeavouring to make its own recommendations. The Oireachtas will vote on the Joint Oireachtas Committee's recommendations within one month of the committee's report. The committee is due to finalise its report by mid-April.

Among the issues the Joint Oireachtas Committee is considering are domestic water charges arrears and any possible refunds of charges paid to date. The 'confidence and supply' arrangement affirms that those who have paid their water bills to date will be treated no less favourably than those who have not. No decisions on these issues will be made until the current deliberative process is complete.