Housing Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2023

Thursday, 7 December 2023

Questions (46)

Pauline Tully

Question:

46. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether it is equitable that additional measures approved under Housing for All to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs does not include people in rural Ireland on group water schemes as it only refunds Uisce Éireann water and wastewater standard connection charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54169/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

On 25 April 2023, as part of a suite of measures to help reduce housing construction costs and incentivise increased housing supply, the Government introduced a temporary time-limited arrangement to waiver the local authority “section 48” development contribution and a refund scheme for water and wastewater connection charges payable to Uisce Éireann.

I can confirm that charges set by Group Water Scheme and paid by their members do not fall within the scope of the refund scheme approved by Government.

Group water schemes are community-owned and community-run organisations and accordingly I have no function in their day-to-day management or operation.

Question No. 47 answered with Question No. 35.