Mick Barry
Ceist:49. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to request Irish Water to publicise its payment figures for water charges for the past two billing periods. [11570/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 May 2016
Ceisteanna (49)
Freagraí scríofa
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water customer billing and collection levels are a matter for the utility and one in which I have no function. Irish Water has published information on bill payment levels to the end of its 4th billing cycle on its website at www.water.ie.
The 4th cycle of bills issued to customers in January and February 2016 and covered services provided in the last three months of 2015. The information published shows that at the end of March 2016, 975,000 customers, or 64% of Irish Water’s anticipated customer base, had paid all or part of their bills for services delivered in 2015. This compares to some 928,000 or 61% of the customer base at the end of the 3rd billing cycle.
Irish Water began issuing bills to their domestic customers in April 2015. Domestic revenue was €144.2m or 53% of income due from charges in 2015; €42.3m and €33.4m were collected in the third and fourth billing cycles respectively.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.