Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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276. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to difficulties being experienced by homeowners and landowners in rural areas being charged between €80,000 and €100,000 for water connections to homes and lands by Irish Water, charges which are out of reach for homeowners and farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7217/22]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will advise on recent increases in charges by Irish Water; if he engages with Irish Water on these charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7218/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.

Responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Under the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 Irish Water is required to collect charges, where relevant, from its customers in accordance with a water charges plan, detailing tariffs and charging arrangements, as approved by the Commission. This includes charges for new connections to the public water services networks, and the revised charges for the provision of water services to commercial and business customers which became effective on 1 October 2021.

Questions or concerns relating to charging arrangements for customers are a matter in the first instance for Irish Water. Any concerns which cannot be resolved by Irish Water to the satisfaction of the customer can be referred under the formal complaints process to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities whose decision on the matter is binding on Irish Water. As Minister I have no role under the Water Services Acts in relation to the matter.

It may also be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.