Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2015
569. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he or any body under his Department's remit is instructing approved housing bodies to actively pursue tenants to pay the water charges arrears; and if those same approved housing bodies are informed in any manner that if their tenants fail to pay the water charges their funding will be affected. [42590/15]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
The occupier of a dwelling is liable to pay the water charges in respect of the dwelling, and legislation provides that the owner is the occupier unless the contrary is proven. Section 23A of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 places certain obligations on the owner of a dwelling to register with Irish Water. In the event that they do not register, Irish Water has the explicit legal authority to bill the owner of the dwelling in respect of any water charges relating to that dwelling. Irish Water is providing landlords with the opportunity to prove that they are not the occupier by providing the tenant’s name. This will allow Irish Water to contact the tenant to complete the registration and to bill the tenant.
Arrears can be avoided by entering into a payment plan with Irish Water. Various easypay options are available through post offices or other payment providers. The overall net cost for those who register is either €1.15 a week for single adult households or €3 a week for all others. Water supply will be not be reduced under any circumstance.
While approved housing bodies are owners of dwellings, no communication has issued from my Department linking the non-payment by tenants of water charges with funding from my Department to the bodies. Payment from my Department to approved housing bodies is generally in respect of specific housing developments or activities they are performing in relation to the delivery of social housing.
