Water fairness bill to guarantee refund to people who paid for water - Penrose
There should be fair treatment between the majority who paid their water charges and those who did not, say the Labour Party, who have published their Water Charges (Fair Treatment of Customers) Bill 2016 today.
The bill provides for the full refund of monies paid by customers who had complied with the law within six months.
Deputy Willie Penrose said: “The ‘Confidence and Supply Arrangement’ between FF and the FG minority government provides for the suspension of domestic water charges for a period of nine months from the end of the current billing cycle, to be extended if necessary to facilitate the workings of a special Oireachtas committee.
“The arrangement does not specify what is to happen about water charges that have already been paid by compliant householders and there is consequent confusion about whether those charges will be retained by Irish Water or returned to customers.
“This situation must be rectified and in a manner that ensures that law abiding citizens, who are in the majority, are treated fairly are thereby refunded their hard earned money.
“We cannot allow a situation to arise where people who comply with the law of the land, are left feeling they have been mugged.”
Provisions of Bill
Section 1 provides that the section will apply if, in the event of an administrative decision, an amended or substituted water charges plan, a direction of the minister or an amendment to the law, the obligation of customers under section 21 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 to pay charges for the provision of water services to dwellings is waived, suspended or abolished.
In that event, Irish Water will be obliged under the section, as soon as practicable and in any case within 6 months, to refund all monies paid by customers who had, prior to that date, complied with their obligation to pay water charges in respect of dwellings.
Section 2 provides for the short title of the bill and for its collective citation and construction with the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2014.