John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will explain the practice for this committee to Ms Graham. The practice has been that this committee cannot follow all of the money allocated to local government through our system. There is a type of mini turf war going on on the side for local government to retain the audit services and not use the Comptroller and Auditor General's office, for what reason I do not know.

For example, where money is allocated by the Department of Education and Skills to one of the commercial semi-State companies, we cannot follow that either, or we can with great difficulty. I was hoping that there would be fresh thinking in this regard by the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Environment, Community and Local Government that would allow the Comptroller and Auditor General to at least follow the taxpayers' money. Once the Comptroller and Auditor General is involved we can then ask for a value for money report on all of what is going on. We cannot do that now. An issue for consideration by this committee will be whether or not to recommend that there be some input from the Comptroller and Auditor General's office in relation to this matter.

My understanding is that the regulator will assess whether the investment is worthy of being included as consideration for an increase in the rate. If Irish Water invests wisely and such investment is viewed by the regulator as a wise investment, he will allow that to be included and the rate per household or per litre will increase. Is that correct?