The Commission for Regulation of Utilities was established under the programme for Government and the confidence and supply arrangement. To date, the whole issue of Irish Water's connection charging policy has not been agreed. I am sure that, as Meath Deputies, the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, and Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, will be acutely aware that Irish Water is charging what it likes for water and sewerage services. I would describe the charges as exorbitant, extortionate and punitive. I have one example from the Ministers' county whereby a family built a home for a severely disabled 26 year old daughter and, having paid the levies we all know about to the local authority, subsequently got a bill for €18,200 for water and sewerage connections within 3 m and 6 m of their property. That is just one example of what is going on. It is water charges by the back door. What steps are being taken to ensure the framework that was agreed, whereby there would be a standard charge, is adhered to? In this case, the figure was subsequently reduced by Irish Water, when it was approached, to something in the order of €10,500. This is still €3,500 more than what the local authority was charging in 2014. The issue must be tackled.

In line with the direction from the regulator, the charges should be the same and should certainly be in line with what the local authorities were charging previously. We can get that checked out. In August, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities provided an updated note on this matter. The report to align all the charges, which was due around now, has been slightly delayed. It should be back with the regulator in quarter 3 of 2018. It will be published then for further brief public consultation and should be completed before the end of 2018. There will then be a standard system of connection policies throughout the country.