Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
349. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the financial relief he will provide to persons on group water schemes now that water charges have been abolished for private residents receiving public water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10205/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to introducing and supporting legislation in the Oireachtas, within six weeks of its appointment, to suspend domestic water charges for a period of nine months from the end of the current bill cycle. The proposed details of the suspension will be set out in the legislation when published.
In line with the suspension of domestic water charges, and to ensure equity of treatment with households on public water supplies, the subsidisation for those on group water schemes will be restored to the level that pertained prior to the introduction of domestic water charges for households connected to the public water supply. The level of subsidisation for group water schemes will be reviewed when the Oireachtas has decided on the enduring funding model for Irish Water.
