3. (1) Notwithstanding section 21(1) of the No. 2 Act of 2013 F1[and subject to subsection (1A)], Irish Water shall not charge, before 1 January 2015, for water services provided by it to a dwelling.

F2[(1A) (a) Notwithstanding section 21(1) of the No. 2 Act of 2013, Irish Water shall not charge for water services provided to a dwelling in respect of the period (in this subsection referred to as the "first-mentioned period") commencing on 1 July 2016 and ending on 31 March 2017.

(b) Where the Minister is informed by the committee that it will not complete its work on or before 31 March 2017 or is otherwise satisfied that the committee will not complete its work on or before that date, he or she may, on or before that date, make an order extending the first-mentioned period for such further period, commencing on the day immediately following the expiration of the first-mentioned period, as does not exceed the period that he or she believes the committee will require to complete its work and is specified in the order.

(c) For the purpose of enabling the Government to consider the recommendations of the committee, the Minister may—

(i) make an order extending the first-mentioned period for such further period, commencing on the day immediately following the expiration of the first-mentioned period, as he or she considers appropriate and is specified in the order, or

(ii) where an order was made under paragraph (b), make an order extending the first-mentioned period as extended under paragraph (b) for such further period, commencing on the day immediately following the expiration of the period specified in the order under paragraph (b), as he or she considers appropriate and is specified in the order.

(d) Notwithstanding section 21(1) of the No. 2 Act of 2013, Irish Water shall not charge for water services provided to a dwelling in respect of any period specified in an order under paragraph (b) or (c).

(e) Irish Water shall not—

(i) before 31 March 2017,

(ii) (in circumstances where an order is made under paragraph (b)) before the expiration of the period specified in that order,

(iii) (in circumstances where an order is made under paragraph (c)) before the expiration of the period specified in that order, or

(iv) (in circumstances where an order is made under paragraph (b) and an order is made under paragraph (c) ) before the expiration of the period specified in the order under paragraph (c),

issue a bill for water services provided to a dwelling in respect of the period 1 April 2016 to 30 June 2016.

(f) In this subsection—

"charge for water services" does not include a charge to which paragraph (b) of subsection (16) relates;

"committee" means a committee established before, on or after the passing of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016 by either House of the Oireachtas or by both Houses of the Oireachtas to examine, and make recommendations in relation to, the matter of funding of water services provided to dwellings;

"first-mentioned period" has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph (a).]

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to non-domestic water supply and waste water charges made under the approved water charges plan in respect of the period from 1 October 2014 until 31 December 2014.

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(16) Irish Water shall not charge for any services to a dwelling (including its curtilage) other than—

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(b) in relation to the connection of the dwelling to water services and waste water services, and

(c) reading and testing of water meters requested by a customer of Irish Water in respect of the dwelling.

(17) A charge made by Irish Water of a customer of Irish Water under section 21 of the No. 2 Act of 2013 includes a charge under this section.

(18) In this section “approved water charges plan” means the water charges plan approved by the Commission under section 22(8) of the Act of 2013 on F4[5 March 2015].