Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

However, the Deputy did not acknowledge that we were at last, making an investment there. Some 50% of the population of Roscommon will have an enhanced water supply. With regard to people on boil water notices, I am prepared to tell the CER that this and such issues must be taken into account before charging these people. I would see it as very unfair for the regulator not to take these issues into account until such time as the quality of the water in Roscommon is up to the type of standard we should have. We will include this as part of our submission.

The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is the regulator in regard to drinking water quality. It has a long list of problems where remedial action is required throughout the country and we will need a significant amount of money to deal with the problems. The EPA has determined there are approximately 1 million people in the country affected by risks in terms of quality, particularly in Dublin, Cork and, of course, Roscommon. This is a big challenge and that is why we are setting up Irish Water.