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Executive Agrees to Help Businesses by Extending Phasing in of Water Payments

Thursday, 12 February 2009

The Executive today agreed proposals which would ease the impact of continued contributions towards sewerage and water services for businesses and other non-domestic customers in 2009/10. The cost of the proposals to the Executive is £17million.

The Executive had previously unanimously agreed that existing non-domestic payments for water and sewerage should be extended in full from April 2009.

Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, said: "The proposals we have agreed represent a significant saving for many non-domestic customers compared to the planned phasing-in of full water and sewerage payments. They will particularly help reduce the impact on smaller consumers, with no phased increase for many and a new allowance for customers who are metered.

"Some larger consumers will see significant increases. The Executive cannot meet all the new costs without having a serious impact on other priority social programmes. But, with around £17million of anticipated revenue foregone, the Executive is sharing the pain with non-domestic customers.

"Of course, we will continue to look for ways of reducing burdens on businesses. The proposals the Executive has agreed today will make a contribution to that.”

Notes to Editors:

  1. In October 2007 the Regional Development Minister announced the Executive’s policy on non-domestic water and sewerage payments. This followed the Executive’s consideration of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Water and Sewerage Services.
  2. The Review recommended that existing payments made by some non-domestic customers should be extended to all. The Executive accepted this, but decided that new payments should be phased in at 50% in 2008/09 and 100% in 2009/10.
  3. In November 2008, in light of the economic situation, the Executive deferred the introduction of additional household payments in 2009.
  4. Media queries to DRD Press Office Tel: 028 9054 0372. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.