Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It has been announced on radio that the three major contracts were awarded for water metering projects throughout the State. I hear most of these things on radio; one does not tend to hear them in the Dáil or at the committee. In his statement the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, said it would be at the rate of 27,000 households per month. I have asked him and the Minister the following question many times and I hope we can get an answer to it today. How much will water metering cost and from where will the money come? I know the Department has capital of €326 million, but that is for fixing leaks. That is a separate fund. I have tried many times to get an answer from the Minister of State and the Minister about what the full cost per household will be. There are reports in a newspaper today on the full cost. Sometimes, however, reports in newspapers do not have any basis and are false. I do not know whether this report is false. As it is in a newspaper of record, there may be some basis for it. What will be the full cost to the householder? In response the Minister of State will tell me that the regulator has not yet been appointed. If the works are so far advanced that 27,000 meters are being installed, surely he can tell me whether it is the full cost of the provision of water, which would be about €1.2 billion or €1.3 billion. That would not be adding in the cost of meters per household. Alternatively, will it be a lesser sum, possibly €400 million or €500 million divided among the 1.3 million householders? Is it a total figure composed of the capital and the operational cost, which is about €1.2 billion or €1.3 billion, according to the Department's figures, divided by number of households? Obviously, commercial water rates would be part of this, which, unfortunately, a huge section of the population do not pay, although they should. Alternatively, will the State subsidise this new commercial semi-State entity called Uisce Éireann?