53E. (1) A customer who receives a notice under section 53D may apply under this section to Irish Water for an allowance where the number of individuals who ordinarily reside in the dwelling concerned exceeds 4.

(2) For the purpose of this section Irish Water shall calculate the allowance—

(a) by reference to the 12 month period referred to in the notice under section 53D, and

(b) by multiplying the allowance amount by the number reached by reducing by 4 the total number of individuals ordinarily residing in the dwelling concerned over the 12 month period specified in the notice under section 53D.

(3) An allowance under this section may operate to wholly or partly reduce the liability of a customer to pay Irish Water under section 53D for provision of water services exceeding the threshold amount.

(4) A customer who has applied for or claimed an allowance in accordance with this section shall immediately give notice to Irish Water of any change in the number of individuals who reside in the dwelling concerned.

(5) The Minister may, for the purpose of this section prescribe minimum periods, within a specified period, during which an individual is required to reside in a dwelling in order to be considered ordinarily resident in the dwelling.

(6) The Minister shall for the purposes of an allowance under this section prescribe the following matters relating to an application for, and confirming continued entitlement to, an allowance under this section:

(a) procedures to be followed by a customer applying to Irish Water for an allowance;

(b) time limits within which, following receipt of a notice under section 53D, an application for an allowance is required to be made;

(c) information to be furnished by the customer claiming, or who has claimed, an allowance to satisfy Irish Water regarding the number of individuals ordinarily residing in the dwelling concerned;

(d) for the purposes of subsection (4), procedures to be followed by a customer and by Irish Water where there is a change in the number of individuals ordinarily residing in a dwelling at any time after the making of an application for, or the granting of, an allowance.]