I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 460 together.
The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake this metering programme. A pre-installation survey is currently being conducted by the local authorities to provide further information on the scope of the metering programme, such as the identification of those properties which already have boundary boxes and meters installed. Over 1.2m properties have now been surveyed. As part of the metering programme, my Department, in conjunction with Irish Water, is currently working on a proposal regarding customer-side leakage. Implementation arrangements have yet to be worked out with Irish Water.