Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
455. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water will be reviewing water waste/water infrastructure development charges for new connections when they will be introducing metering charges to domestic customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51356/12]
View answerThe Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the metering programme. In addition, the Government has recently approved the preparation of legislation to assign the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme. The Government has also decided to assign responsibility for the economic regulation of the water sector to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The primary role of the regulator will be to protect the interests of customers and to ensure that a consistent and appropriate level of service is provided to customers; the regulator will be given appropriate powers in this regard. The regulator will be responsible for approving all charges levied by Irish Water.
