Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I recognise that there are 20 treatment plants around the country that are completely inadequate. I recognise that the infrastructure in so many places is grossly inferior to what it should be, so people have to deal with inferior, infrequent and poor supplies. The only way that can be dealt with is by having an entity that is entitled to borrow money to provide that infrastructure, construction jobs and facilities for business and domestic consumers alike. Some 40% of our water leaks away into the ground. This city has never dealt with this problem. The imposition of any new charge is always difficult for people.

When I told Deputy Adams that the Government has not decided on all these measures, that is because the Government is required to discuss and decide the details of how we can make this affordable, equitable and as fair as possible. That is why it is only right that one takes into account whether houses include children, vulnerable individuals or people with particular medical circumstances that require more water usage than most. We must look at the scale of how assessments are to be carried out, taking into account the explanation of the rules by the CSO in the context of whether EUROSTAT means one can only give a maximum subvention level of €537 million for 2015 and 2016. That means that the Government cannot put any more finance into Irish Water without putting it back on the Government books.

That would mean having to deal with a €700 million requirement later in the year.

The Government is deciding on this and the details will be known before the local elections. The average metered charge as currently indicated by the information from the CSO is for €60 per quarter. That is the bill that will come to people in the first days of January 2015. Both parties in Government have every right to discuss the details of all of these issues and will do so in the next two weeks. A final decision on the proposition will be brought forward by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. It is very important for the future of the country.

When Deputy Martin was shouting from his bench, he did not share with Deputy Adams, who puts up with water charges in the North of Ireland without any problem, the information that he himself intended to introduce a €400 charge last year.

See this speech in context