Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, no decision has been made on what the level of charge will be or on the free allowance. However, it is stated in the programme for Government that there will be a free allowance. Deputy Murphy is correct in that it is about changing people's behaviour. One issue I have seen in the UK and elsewhere is that if there is charging for water, there must be significant attempts by the water companies to reduce use. I know that in the UK if people want to put something into the cistern, they are given a special container that brings the volume of water up and displaces water in the cistern so they flush less. There are many things one can do to ensure that one reduces the volume of water and to encourage people to do that. Hand-in-hand with charging for water is the issue of how one encourages people to use less apart from the cost of the same and to protect the resource. This must be very much a part of it. There will be ongoing education and information programmes relating to all these matters.

A major campaign on the conservation of water will be similar to the Race Against Waste campaign. This is a significant issue which will be addressed properly at national level by means of a sustained and effective campaign.