Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2014
136. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if households will have to verify that they have paid water charges in order to receive the €100 payment from her Department; the way this will be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45540/14]
View answer137. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if households currently paying water charges as part of a group water scheme will be eligible for the €100 payment from the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45541/14]
View answer138. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation in respect of the €100 payment to offset water charges or if it will be done by means of regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45542/14]
View answer149. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the new arrangements pertaining to water charges in the circumstance of a second home; if the €100 conservation rebate will be made available to second home owners in respect of their second homes as well as their principal residences; the charges that will be issued to owners of second homes whose connection is currently switched off but who may wish to reconnect to water services in the future; if the deadline for registration with Irish Water will be extended beyond 30 November 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45456/14]
View answer152. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the number of Irish Water registration packs that were returned with personal public service numbers included. [45496/14]
View answer153. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the recently announced water conservation grant will be payable to persons who have their own septic tanks and private wells and have returned the Irish Water application pack. [45500/14]
View answerI 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.
