Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 May 2014
148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he has not published the ESRI report provided to his Department on water affordability; when he intends to do so in order that all members of Dáil Éireann will be fully informed of the evidence base for the impact of proposed changes on different income groups. [20618/14]
View answerIn January 2013, the Economic and Social Research Institute was commissioned by my Department to undertake a study into water affordability and the provision of water services in Ireland. An Inter-Departmental Working Group was established in October 2013 to advise the Government on the appropriate method for addressing affordability issues which may arise with the introduction of domestic water charges. The Group have taken into account the ESRI study as part of their examination of the issues. The Group comprises my Department and the Departments of the Taoiseach, Social Protection, Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance.
The Government has decided, following consideration of proposals in relation to the funding model for Irish Water and taking account of the work of the Inter-Departmental Working Group, to provide a free allowance of 30,000 litres of water supplied and waste water treated per annum for a primary residence on a public supply. The Government has also decided to provide for an additional free allowance to cover the normal usage of water services by every child in their primary residence based on the same qualifying conditions as child benefit, such that water charges will in effect only apply to adults in such households. The normal consumption is estimated at 38,000 litres annually per child of water supplied and waste water treated and so the allowance being provided will be up to 38,000 litres per annum. This level of consumption will be verified over time through actual data from metering.
The Government has also decided that bills will be capped at the assessed charge level for those customers with particular medical conditions which necessitate high water usage. These decisions will be communicated to the CER through a Ministerial Direction issued in accordance with the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013. Following on from these decisions, I propose to publish the report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group which includes the work of the ESRI, on my Department’s website shortly.
