Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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357. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the reintroduction of domestic water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26297/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, published on 12 April 2017, has definitively addressed this matter. The Committee recommended, amongst other things, that the cost of domestic consumption of water services be met from general taxation rather than by means of direct charges on households, with the exception of levies or disincentives necessary to curb wasteful and excessive use of water services.   These recommendations have been given statutory effect under the Water Services Act 2017. The current Programme for Government includes a commitment to the implementation of the recommendation of the Committee in relation to excess use. Arrangements necessary to give effect to this commitment, and thus conserve water supplies, are currently being advanced by my Department and by Irish Water.