Vol. 309 No. 6
asked the Minister for the Environment whether the Government will make appropriate arrangements to end the liability of householders for water rates in areas in which the water rate has been separately charged, thus treating them equally with householders in areas in which the water rate was incorporated in the general rates now abolished.
153.
asked the Minister for the Environment why Dublin County Council continue to charge a water rate whereas Dublin Corporation have abolished their water rate as part of the Government's policy of abolishing domestic rates.
154.
asked the Minister for the Environment if there are any local authorities in the country who do not charge water rates.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 153 and 154 together.
In urban areas, the rates for various purposes were consolidated into a single municipal rate by the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1930, the City and County Management Acts passed between 1934 and 1941 and the Local Government Act, 1946. As a result of this legislation and a subsequent clarifying provision of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1962, specific charges for water could no longer be made by urban authorities, including Dublin Corporation, in respect of domestic water supplies to dwellings within their areas. Urban authorities can, however, make charges for water supplied to non-domestic consumers within their areas and for both domestic and non-domestic supplies to consumers outside the urban areas.
The statutes referred to in effect left the position unchanged in county health districts, including the functional area of Dublin County Council, where specific charges may apply for water supplied for domestic as well as non-domestic purposes. I understand that specific charges for domestic water supply are not made by the county councils of Leitrim, Louth and Sligo.
The Government have honoured fully their promise in regard to domestic rates. But their commitment to abolish county and municipal rates on dwellings did not extend to abolition of charges not already incorporated in the rates.
