Ms Geraldine Tallon:

The operator in those cases is in a contract with the local authority for operation and maintenance over the 20-year period. The local authority owns the infrastructure, which will revert to it at the end of the contract period. Those contracts provide for increases in CPI terms but for nothing else. They are not, for example, subject to review after a period. In the water sector, a number of contracts are with single major operators in the Irish market. I refer to Anglian Water, Veolia and Water Ireland, which have between six and ten treatment plants in operation. These companies are able to apply economies of scale in respect of those plants in the context of the purchase of chemicals and energy. They tend to provide good value in operational terms. Our experience with them so far is positive.