I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 to 138, inclusive, 149, 152 and 153 together.
On 19 November 2014, the Government decided on the introduction of a number of measures in relation to a revised approach to water charges. This was done to provide clarity and certainty and ensure that water charges are affordable for customers.
To implement the changed charging regime, and to provide those households who have yet to register with an opportunity to respond to the Irish Water customer registration campaign, so that they may avail of the new benefits and to receive accurate bills, households are encouraged to register by 2 February 2015. Personal Public Service (PPS) Numbers will not be required for registration with Irish Water. In compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Acts, Irish Water will delete PPS data already collected during the customer registration process to protect customers’ data. Irish Water has developed a protocol in consultation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to address this data removal exercise.
Households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process will, in the case of primary dwellings, be eligible for a €100 water conservation grant, payable through the Department of Social Protection. This payment is being made available to support more sustainable use of water, as part of the Government’s objective of achieving greater water conservation among households, and will be available to all households (primary dwellings) including those in the group water sector and those with private wells or septic tanks. As the aim is to provide a single annual grant to all eligible households for their primary residences, it will not be available for second homes.
The Department of Social Protection will engage with eligible households to seek necessary PPS numbers and bank details for the purposes of grant payments. It is envisaged that households will be required to make a statutory declaration that they have no outstanding bills for the provision of water services as part of this process. The detailed arrangements for the operation of the scheme are being developed by my Department and the Department of Social Protection and consideration is also being given to the appropriate legislative basis for the scheme.