I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 569 together.
With effect from 1 January 2014, following the commencement of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Section 8 of the Act which commenced on that date, provided Irish Water with the power to impose a water connection charge with effect from the 1 January 2014 on the same basis as local authorities had charged for this service prior to that date. As provided for in section 8(3) of the Act, section 8 ceased to have effect following the commencement of section 21 of the Act on 1 October 2014. Section 21 of the Act provides that Irish Water shall charge each customer for the provision of services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges plan may make provision for a charge in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to or in respect of a premises. In its decision on Irish Water’s Water Charges Plan, published in October 2014, the CER stated that, until it made a decision on Irish Water’s new connection charges, Irish Water should continue to apply rates equivalent to those which were applied by the local authorities at 31 December 2013.
The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (otherwise known as the Aarhus Convention) lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizens’ involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law. The CER is currently working with Irish Water to develop a high level work plan for the year ahead and this will include the new approach to connection charges. This plan will be published in the coming weeks. A more detailed work plan outlining the consultation schedule for connection charges will be published later this year. The CER has informed my Department that it will consult widely with stakeholders when considering any submission from Irish Water, and that there will be many opportunities for interested parties to participate in the consultations on the new connection charging policy.
