Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1565. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on concerns (details supplied) regarding group water schemes and provision of single meters at one location to cover all the houses in the scheme. [34207/14]
View answerI assume the Question relates to how Irish Water proposes to bill group water schemes which receive their water from Irish Water as distinct from schemes which have their own sources. Such schemes were previously customers of local authorities for the bulk supply of this water.
The group scheme is a now customer of Irish Water for the bulk supply of such water and the Commission for Energy Regulation is not proposing any changes at this stage to charges for non-domestic customers, including such group water schemes.
It is important to emphasise that the households on the group scheme are customers of the scheme and not of Irish Water. There is a separate funding line available to the group water sector within the Rural Water Programme for water conservation and upgrading works on schemes with priority to be afforded to projects which will provide the highest water conservation returns. Provision is made in legislation for Irish Water to take-over group water schemes, subject generally to not fewer than two thirds of those entitled to dispose of it (typically the members of a group water scheme) giving their consent.
