Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not repeat what others have said, but I support what Deputy James Bannon said about rural water schemes. I appreciate that there is a large investment in the larger capital projects and that this needs to continue to upgrade the standard of water quality. It is welcome that the investment is increasing in that respect, with over 40 contracts granted. How many of these contracts are entirely new or is there an overlap with last year's contracts? I think 55 were announced in 2012 and over 40 in 2013.

It is important to note that the Minister of State has said in his statement that the legislation will reaffirm the Government's commitment to maintaining water service assets in public ownership. I welcome this statement which will reassure many who have been expressing concerns in that regard. The local authorities are well placed to work in the new framework as agents to deliver a quality water service programme. I am conscious that local authorities have operated their own networks on an individual basis and that the work will now be co-ordinated in the overall Irish Water network. Is there provision for an overall co-ordinated asset management system for water networks? One notes that approximately €1 billion per annum is being invested in water networks when the level of leakage into the ground is over 50%. This is significant waste that is totally unsustainable and cannot continue. It is welcome that the Government is now addressing this annual problem through the establishment of Irish Water.

I seek reassurance from the Minister of State that there will be a co-ordinated asset management system with electronic mapping of the entire network, including mains, trunks, distribution networks into individual houses, maintenance records and a planned maintenance and replacement schedule because, without that, we will find it difficult to get the public on board. If we have a properly planned and co-ordinated system, it will gain the confidence of the people and we will have a more sustainable, quality water network to help domestic and industrial users.