Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
1027. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to propose amending legislation to clarify that trustees of group water schemes, where such groups have been purchasing water from public supplies, will not be liable to Irish Water for debts incurred by members of such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41566/14]
View answerThe Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Act also provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish water and the charges to be levied by Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER. Following a public consultation process the CER announced its decision on water charges on 30 September. Water charges commenced on 1 October 2014 and the first bills will be issued by Irish Water to households from January 2015.
Group Water Schemes that are supplied by way of a connection to the public water supply network will have previously been non-domestic customers of the relevant local authority and will therefore now become customers of Irish Water. Under the arrangements determined by the CER, the existing charges for non-domestic customers will remain in place pending a further consultation. My Department understands that there may be some group schemes where special local arrangements may have applied; the future arrangements in relation to these schemes will be resolved as soon as possible.
It is important to emphasise that the households on group schemes are customers of the scheme and not of Irish Water. My Department has no proposals to change this or to change any existing arrangements relating to the trustees of such schemes.
Group Water Schemes that have their own water sources will not be customers of Irish Water and will continue to operate as before.
Questions Nos. 1028 and 1029 answered with Question No. 977.
