asked the Minister for Local Government if in the assessment of water charges under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1962, the business valuation as well as the residential valuation of a person's premises may be taken into consideration when, in fact, water is only being used for domestic purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Charges.
63.
Where the business and residential parts of the premises are not valued separately a charge for water may properly be made on the valuation of the entire premises.
Would the Minister agree it would be more equitable, where the local authority is satisfied that no water is being used on a business premises, that the poundage charge should be levelled only on the valuation of the domestic part of the building?
The best arrangement in a case like this, where there is a business and private residence in the one building, is for the water being consumed in the business area to be separately metered. This is what I would suggest to Deputy Clinton in the particular case he has in mind.