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

One main justification for setting up Uisce Éireann is that it will save money. In recent days, the Minister, Deputy Hogan, has stated it will save €2 billion over a seven-year period. If one takes it that at present, it costs €1.2 billion to run the service across the Twenty-six Counties, one is looking at a cost of €8.4 billion over a seven-year period. Therefore, if €2 billion is to be saved, that means the cost will be reduced to €6.4 billion. Will Irish Water be able to achieve this reduction? If so, Mr. Tierney should riddle me this one. At present, slightly more than 4,000 staff are employed in local authorities in respect of the provision of water services. A macro-structure is to be imposed on top of that and is in the process of being created. I understand the midwife is busy at work at present and approximately 500 staff are involved in this regard. Mr. Tierney should explain to me in the first instance how, with that structure on top of the existing local authority staff - all of whom will stay in place - he expects to make those savings? How does he expect to be able to reduce the cost of providing water services by 2021 down to €6.4 billion? Does he expect it will be possible to do this? Briefly, he should outline how he proposes to do this with the staff and the new structure that is being created.