Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
water run-off tanks from his water metering plans; his views on the matter and his stance on
the metering of private wells and of rain water run-off tanks and drains; and if he will make a
statement on the matter. [8301/12]
468. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government if he has proposed, as part of his response, to tier his well and rainwater metering
charges in proportion to the ambient participation annually experienced in different parts of
the country; if he has made a case in Europe for lower charges in areas of higher rainfall in
view of the evidently lesser extractive impact of any wells and rainwater run-off tanks in those
areas and with reference to the long term data gathered and held by the European Environmental
Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8302/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan): I
propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 468 together.
The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to
deliver clean and reliable water. The Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF
and the ECB also contains commitments for the reform of water services delivery and operation
and the introduction of domestic water charges. To meet these commitments, the Government
intends initiating a water metering programme for households on public water supplies in
advance of the introduction of water charges.
The Government is proposing to establish an independent economic regulator for water
within the Commission for Energy Regulation and the approach to be taken in relation to
setting the level of charges for water services will be determined in consultation with the
Regulator.
The Government is not proposing to install meters or to apply charges in respect of private
wells or rainwater run-off tanks. The position regarding Ireland’s response to the European
Commission’s Reasoned Opinion on our legal interpretation of the definition of water services
provided for in the Water Framework Directive is set out in my response to Questions Nos.
445, 446 and 466 on today’s Order Paper.
Local Authority Charges
469. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government if he will consider an exemption to original offshore islanders who have an
additional home on the mainland from the household charges. [8308/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan):
The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household
Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge. Under
the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is
liable to pay the household charge by 31 March 2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to
claim a waiver. I have no plans to provide an exemption along the lines suggested.
Departmental Staff
470. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government if he will outline on a yearly basis from 2008 to 2015 in respect of staff leaving
the public service in his Department; the cost of lump sums; the cost of severance payments;
the cost of pensions of those leaving the service through retirement or other means; the loss of
the pension levy from employees who have left; the loss of superannuation payments from
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