Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I asked a question about the value of the assets held by Uisce Éireann on 14 January and was told it was €11 billion but that we would come back to it and that liabilities were included in it. Has there been any clarification since the last time we were here?

A question was asked about whether the water part of development levies collected at local authority level would be spent at local authority level. The hard reality is that no local authority except perhaps Dublin collected any amount of money in 2013 that would carry out any infrastructural improvement works. The money is just not there. In reality, where will that money go?

In respect of the detailed explanation given by Mr. Barry about the charges by IBM, the actual consultancy costs were part of much of the questioning on the last occasion. We were told we would get a scoping document which set out the breakdown of the charges. When we were told that, I expected that we would have it the next day. I raised the fact that we still had not received it in the Seanad a couple of days later.

We were supposed to receive a breakdown of the costs for each consultant. I have not received that information; nor has Deputy Cowen, as the spokesperson for Fianna Fáil. It is important that we receive a copy of the document for the purpose of clarity and transparency.

When I asked about the supply of water to Dublin at our last meeting, Mr. Barry pointed out that €67 million had been set aside for the matter. Has the money been spent and what is being done with it? I understand that Bord na Móna has completed much of the preparatory work on the Garryhinch project but the dots have not yet been joined with Dublin City Council, which had assigned 12 staff to work on the project, and Irish Water. Based on the answers I received at our last meeting I thought we would get specific information on this project, given that the biggest problem Irish Water faces is the lack of capacity in Dublin. However, the 26-page document we received today did not provide the requested information. Can the witnesses clarify whether Irish Water is intent on proceeding with the Garryhinch project? What are the specific timelines for completing the work outstanding in advance of seeking planning permission? I understand Bord na Móna has carried out an environmental impact assessment and is waiting for the Dublin end of the work to be completed. At a cost of approximately €500 million, this will be the biggest single project for which Irish Water is responsible.

I am mystified as to the amount of capital investment that is available. It is either €930 million or €310 million per year. As Deputy Stanley already went through the figures, I presume the figure is €310 million per year for the next three years. The documents indicates that between €500 million and €600 million will be needed every year to build or repair infrastructure. If the Garryhinch project will cost €500 million, where does that leave the remainder of the projects? What is our capacity to attract international investment and how are we setting about attracting it? The money is clearly not there but the problems in Dublin and the Leinster region will not go away. How are we going to address that issue?

In regard to projects like the Fethard-Burncourt scheme in County Tipperary, which has gone to tender, and the Seven Villages scheme in County Waterford, in respect of which a letter of intent has been issued, I have been told by my local authority that it is a matter for Irish Water to complete them. Mr. Tierney noted that a new point of contact had been established for public representatives. Will we get the level of information we require from this point of contact, and where are local representatives to find information on schemes and repairs? Irish Water's website appears to be a work in progress because it is limited in the amount of detailed information provided. I ask Mr. Tierney to confirm that the website is still a work in progress.