22. The Act of 2014 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 3B (inserted by section 21):

“3C. (1) Irish Water shall make a payment to a customer of the amount which has been paid by that customer of a charge imposed by Irish Water for the provision by Irish Water of water services to a dwelling.

(2) The payment by Irish Water under subsection (1) shall be made in relation to the charge imposed for the provision of water services (other than a charge under paragraph (b) of section 3(16)) to a dwelling in respect of the period commencing on 1 January 2015 and ending on 31 March 2016.

(3) As soon as practicable, and in any event not later than one month after the coming into operation of this section, the Minister shall, for the purposes of this section, give a direction in writing to Irish Water.

(4) A direction of the Minister under subsection (3) shall direct—

(a) Irish Water to make payments to customers for the purposes of this section,

(b) the manner in which payments under this section shall be made,

(c) Irish Water to make payments, within the period specified in the direction, and

(d) Irish Water to inform customers of its complaints process under section 32(2)(ee) (inserted by section 17 (b) of the Water Services Act 2017) of the No. 2 Act of 2013.

(5) The Minister, by direction in writing, may, for the purposes of this section, amend or revoke a direction under this section (including a direction under this subsection).

(6) As soon as practicable after giving a direction to Irish Water under subsection (3) or (5) the Minister shall—

(a) cause the direction to be published in Iris Oifigiúil, and

(b) lay a copy of the direction before each House of the Oireachtas.

(7) Irish Water shall comply with a direction under this section within the time specified in the direction.”.