I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 216, inclusive, together.
With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. While my Department and Irish Water are in regular engagement in relation to future capital investment, it is a matter for the CER to approve charges in respect of the provision of a service connection to or in respect of a premises.
In its decision on Irish Water's Water Charges Plan, published in October 2014, the CER stated that, until it made a decision on Irish Water's new connection charges, Irish Water should continue to apply rates equivalent to the water and wastewater related development levies which were applied by the local authorities at 31 December 2013.
The CER is currently working with Irish Water to develop a high level work plan for the year ahead and this will include the new approach to connection charges. This plan will be published in the coming weeks. A more detailed work plan outlining the consultation schedule will be published later this year. The CER has informed my Department that it will consult widely with stakeholders when considering any submission from Irish Water, and that there will be many opportunities for interested parties, including my Department, to participate in the consultations on the new connection charging policy.
I am not aware of any letters received in my Department from local authority chief executives regarding the new connection fees for Irish Water.