Ms Cathy Mannion:

On a rebate for a customer affected by a boil-water notice, we would have a detailed set of rules with Irish Water as to how it is applied, compensation is calculated, how soon the consumer gets that payment and how it appears on their bill. There will be complete clarity around when people will receive these payments. It will not be for the customer to contact Irish Water to say they should get the payment. Instead, the onus will be on Irish Water to promptly contact the customer about the rebate. We have changed the emphasis there slightly.

We have asked Irish Water for a first-fix policy for a consultation paper. There is a lack of clarity around what exactly is covered in the first-fix policy and how it will operate. We will be consulting on that over the next month. Everyone will then have the opportunity to explain what should or should not be included in that policy.

I agree that if only 10% of the water coming into a house is for drinking, then it seems to be a waste of investment if the rest of the supply is given over to showers and washing cars for example. There is a small amount of money given over for research and development. I have asked Irish Water to examine minimising future investment for the treatment of drinking water as against the treatment of other use water. I can imagine that it would be an expensive proposition because it is about splitting drinking and non-drinking water, effectively meaning two supplies for a house.