I propose to take Questions Nos. 489, 498, 508, 511, 513, 539 and 542 together.
The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. International evidence has shown that where meters have been installed significant reductions have been achieved in the level of consumption and this is also borne out by the water savings achieved with metering in the group water sector.
The Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the metering programme. In common with meters for other utility services, the meters will be the property of Irish Water.
In keeping with international practice regarding water metering, the meters will be installed at the boundary of the property, most typically on the footpath at the front of a house. Households will not be charged an upfront charge for the water meter. However, similar to other utilities and the approach adopted in the metering of non domestic customers, it is likely that there will be a charge included in bills to cover the cost of the meter and its installation metering programme. The level of charges, including any charges relating to meter installation and maintenance, will be determined as part of the regulatory process.
Insofar as properties metered under the non domestic metering programme are concerned, such properties were not charged an upfront installation fee and their water bills include a standing charge which relates to the cost of the water meter. It will be a matter for Irish Water to determine how it will integrate any existing metered properties into its national system.