Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday saw the publication of a major report pertaining to proposed water charges. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, has indicated his intention to introduce water charges in January 2014 and to repair leakages at the same time. The report yesterday indicated that Irish Water will be seeking hundreds of millions of euro to deal with the level of leakages in the system, with an estimate that some €600 million per year will be required in the next ten years. The undertaking to introduce water charges is included in the programme for Government. We are aware, however, that the level of leakage is up to 40%. There is, moreover, a very poor quality of water in some areas and, in some instances, leakages have nothing to do with households. In that context, does the Government still intend to proceed with the introduction of charges for all households, irrespective of the quality of the water itself, of the water supply or of the associated infrastructure?

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