Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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292. 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. [24404/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Domestic water charges are currently suspended. Under the ‘Confidence and Supply’ arrangement agreed in the context of Fianna Fáil supporting a minority government, the Oireachtas established a Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. It was tasked with examining the recommendations of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services and making its own recommendations.

The report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee was published on 12 April 2017, and was subsequently approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas.  The Committee's recommendations included the following:

“In respect of the most cost efficient mechanism of adhering to the principle of equity of treatment for those who have paid and have not paid water charges, the Committee recommends that, following consideration of payments made by the State to date through the water conservation grant and the most effective refund methods, such households should be compensated in an equitable manner.”

A general scheme of a Bill to implement the key recommendations of the Report is currently being prepared.