Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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385.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will expand the powers of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in respect of investigating failures by Uisce Éireann to provide an adequate service. [24791/24]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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386.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the adequacy of powers of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in respect of service provision by Uisce Éireann, particularly in respect of the prohibition on investigation until such a time as Uisce Éireann has completed the complaint process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24792/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as the economic regulator of Uisce Éireann also has a role to protect customers by setting quality of service standards and ensuring customers are treated fairly.

The CRU approves the Uisce Éireann Codes of Practice through its publication of the Domestic and Non-Domestic Customer Handbooks. The standards set in the Handbooks must be met by Uisce Éireann’s. If CRU has reason to suspect that Uisce Éireann has failed to adhere to its Codes of Practice, it may initiate an investigation. Where the CRU finds such a failure to have occurred, it can direct Uisce Éireann to comply.

The CRU has wide-ranging “customer dispute resolution” powers as provided for under section 8 of the Water Services Act 2014. Where a customer completes the Uisce Éireann complaints process and is not satisfied with the outcome, the complaint can then be escalated to CRU who may commence an investigation of the complaint.

The legislation provides that Uisce Éireann “shall comply with all reasonable requests for information by the Commission in carrying out an investigation into a complaint”. The legislation also provides that “Uisce Éireann shall comply with any requirement made of it in a determination”. These legislative provisions are consistent with the equivalent legislation in relation to energy disputes.

I am satisfied that the CRU have the relevant statutory powers to allow them to carry out their role in protecting Uisce Éireann customers.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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387.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the need for a compensation scheme for businesses forced to close on a continued basis due to water outages. [24795/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Uisce Éireann is focused on providing water that is fit for human consumption, with the objective of providing this service uniformly to its customers across the country. Uisce Éireann has a strong customer service focus through their Customer Charter, which outlines the standard of service customers should expect to receive.

The Water Charges Plan outlines the manner and method by which Uisce Éireann charges its non-domestic customers. The Water Charges Plan is approved by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) following a public consultation process and sets out a compensation mechanism when water quality is compromised and unfit for human consumption such as when Boil Water and Drinking Water Restriction Notices apply. Business customers who pay charges are entitled to a rebate as agreed with the CRU.

I do not have a role in the development and implementation of the Water Charges plan. These are matters for Uisce Éireann. Any issues, which cannot be resolved by Uisce Éireann to the satisfaction of the customer can be referred, under a free complaints resolution service, to the CRU.