Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Point three of the presentation relates to the delivery of water services that are not fit for purpose on a consistent basis and the fact that continuing to deliver in this way will only result in a further deterioration of water and wastewater services. Point four states the establishment of Irish Water as a national utility will secure and improve water services by bringing a systematic approach to the service and so forth. Specifically, Irish Water suggests that 34 local authorities managing €11 billion worth of assets does not deliver the required economies of scale at present. The lack of standardisation in how plants are operated and services delivered leads to a variable quality and added costs. Irish Water goes on to say that it will identify priority areas nationally that require focus and investment to solve problems. Does Mr. Tierney accept this is very similar to the sort of comment made in the establishment of the HSE? If so, is it not strange that in the coming weeks we will see the disbandment of the HSE, due to the fact it is not achieving the sort of savings it envisaged it would? Does Mr. Tierney wish to comment on that?