Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the executives for coming before the committee. This has been a very welcome public debate on the transparency and clarity that is required for these issues. We are establishing a new national utility, which I would equate to the establishment of the ESB or even Bord Gáis. I think we all need to keep that in mind.

It is important that we acknowledge the practical expertise of Mr. O'Donoghue and Mr. Barry which is very evident to me and how they have initiated this process in their engagement through Bord Gáis. They have explained in clear terms much that I did not know before. That is very helpful from a public information point of view.
Some of my questions may have been broached already. The specific asset management system in which these specialists have invested was not in place before and was required for the management of Irish Water. The new customer billing and support systems were not in place before and were required for the efficient management of Irish Water and what the delegates describe as an asset worth €11 billion. We spend over €1.2 billion a year on that asset which is not efficient because approximately 40% of the water leaks from it. Am I right in saying we have inherited an ad hocasset system that has not been properly recorded, that has been managed and maintained at different levels by different local authorities, depending on the funding made available in them? Will the delegates clarify this for the public record? Can these specialised systems being installed be utilised? Mr. Tierney mentioned a life cycle of 20 years. I presume that we will not have to reinvest in these systems in the short to medium term. Will he clarify this, too, for the public record? As was said, some systems introduced by the public service such as PPARS which cost €110 million and e-voting machines which cost €50 million never saw the light of day. Will Mr. Tierney clarify whether these systems will be used and that they have a life cycle that has been determined?
I welcome the manner in which the delegates have come and put all of the information on the table and their commitment to continue to do so. That is essential for public confidence. I want to hear again the reassurance that all national procurement protocols have been adhered to. Benchmarking was mentioned. I would have expected people with the expertise of Bord Gáis and others now involved in Irish Water to have analysed and compared similar systems and best practice. I expect that they have a cost-effective model and a system to deliver real savings to the taxpayer through the efficient management of the water supply which we have not had heretofore.
From where has the funding come for this budget? Is it coming directly from the Department, the taxpayer, or is it being raised by way of a loan?