Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2024
387. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the need for a compensation scheme for businesses forced to close on a continued basis due to water outages. [24795/24]
View answerUisce Éireann is focused on providing water that is fit for human consumption, with the objective of providing this service uniformly to its customers across the country. Uisce Éireann has a strong customer service focus through their Customer Charter, which outlines the standard of service customers should expect to receive.
The Water Charges Plan outlines the manner and method by which Uisce Éireann charges its non-domestic customers. The Water Charges Plan is approved by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) following a public consultation process and sets out a compensation mechanism when water quality is compromised and unfit for human consumption such as when Boil Water and Drinking Water Restriction Notices apply. Business customers who pay charges are entitled to a rebate as agreed with the CRU.
I do not have a role in the development and implementation of the Water Charges plan. These are matters for Uisce Éireann. Any issues, which cannot be resolved by Uisce Éireann to the satisfaction of the customer can be referred, under a free complaints resolution service, to the CRU.
