James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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274. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a person (details supplied) will qualify for the Irish Water first fix free scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34315/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels in accordance with Section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. This includes operational responsibility for the first fix free scheme for addressing occuring within the curtilage of a customers property. In addition, Irish Water is independently regulated by the Commissioner for Regulation of Utilities or CRU who has a specific mandate to ensure that the water system operates and develops in the best interests of the public and customers. Customers who are unhappy with Irish Water’s response to service matters can complain to the CRU who has the power to consider and determine disputes in a manner that is binding on Irish Water. The Minister has no function in relation to this matter for which Irish Water has responsibility subject to the independent regulation of the CRU.

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.ieor by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.