Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2018
642. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of water charges repayments due; the amount repaid to date, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3114/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
Provision was made in my Department’s Vote in 2017 as part of the Further Revised Estimates 2017, as approved by Dáil Éireann, for the costs of the refund process.
My Department issued total payments of €177,535,103 to Irish Water in 2017 to cover the costs involved in issuing a refund to over 990,000 domestic customers of Irish Water, who paid water charges in full or in part. This includes a provision of €5,869,630 in respect of administration costs.
I understand that as of 18 January 2018, Irish Water has produced and dispatched 939,581 cheques totalling €163,984,907 to Irish Water customers. This information is not currently available to me on a county by county basis.
Payments to date represent over 94% of customers expected to be refunded and over 95% of the total amount expected to be refunded. Irish Water is continuing to encourage customers who are still due a refund, whose details have changed and have not yet informed them, to make contact by calling 1850 448 448 as soon as possible so that they can process their refund.
In line with the Ministerial Direction issued on the Domestic Water Charges Refunds, I expect to receive a report at the end of January 2018 outlining the total payments issued and any outstanding payments due to exceptional circumstances and the approach to resolving these issues.
