Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2007
183 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 242 of 28 June 2007, if his Department differentiates between guest-houses and bed and breakfast operations; if bed and breakfasts will be classed as non-domestic premises in respect of the water framework directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21199/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's pricing policy for water services, in accordance with the polluter pays principle and the requirements of Article 9 of the EU Water Framework Directive, requires local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes.
While water services provided to a household for domestic purposes are provided free of charge, services used in the course of a business, including short-term accommodation in Bed and Breakfast establishments (whether or not registered with Fáilte Ireland), guesthouses, hotels, self-catering accommodation, etc. are subject to charge. Accordingly, no distinction between guesthouses and Bed and Breakfast establishments should be made by local authorities in applying water charges. Where there is a mixture of domestic and non-domestic use in a premises, an annual allowance, based on the local authority's reasonable estimation of the domestic element of water consumption in the premises, is applied to reduce the overall charge to the consumer.
