Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
669. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and amount of water charge refunds paid to date; the plans of Irish Water for further repayments; the way in which unspent funds will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6972/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued total payments of €177,535,103 to Irish Water in 2017 to cover the costs involved in issuing a refund to some 995,000 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 as of 31 January 2018, Irish Water has issued cheques to approximately 947,000 customers at a total value of approximately €165 million. Work to identify and refund remaining customers is continuing through February. In keeping with the spirit of the provisions for the refund of domestic water charges under the Water Services Act 2017, and the earlier recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services on the matter, every reasonable effort continues to be made to ensure that all domestic customers are refunded in full the amounts due to them.
In line with the Direction issued by me under Section 3C of the Water Services Act 2014, which provided for the refund of domestic water charges, Irish Water has furnished a draft report to my Department setting out details of the total payments issued and any outstanding payments at the end of January 2018. I expect to receive a final status report on the programme for the refund of domestic charges at the end of February 2018. Arrangements will be put in place at that stage to deal with any outstanding matters, such as unspent funds and future liabilities for outstanding refunds.
