Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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523. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of subvention to Irish Water in 2017; the estimated subvention for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40311/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services was published on 12 April 2017 and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas.  The Government recently approved the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, which, consistent with the recommendations of report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, primarily involve, inter alia, all State funding to Irish Water in respect of domestic water services as determined through the regulatory process being channelled in future through my Department's Vote. The future funding of Irish Water in respect of domestic water services will therefore be from general taxation, in the form of a payment for domestic water services, based on the purchase of water covering the entirety of domestic water consumption other than excessive use and a contribution to replace the financing of the domestic component of capital investment previously funded by debt, and a capital contribution from Central Funds.

The amount of subvention to be provided to Irish Water in 2017 is estimated to be €753 million.  Funding of Irish Water in 2018 in respect of domestic water services is being determined as part of the normal budgetary and estimates process.