Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As with the ESB and gas, one pays for what one consumes. However, this is the only utility in which one could potentially pay for something that one does not consume, because of the leakage issues. I accept that the first-fix policy is not the issue; it is what happens subsequent to that, when one has full liability. Somebody mentioned the customer side of the meter. Most meters are situated in the middle of the public footpaths in housing estates. I am not worried about the first leak but the second. If the leak is between the meter and the curtilage of one's site, a permit is required to open the footpath. In Kildare such a permit costs €120, along with a charge of €50 for repairs to the footpath. A €500 refundable bond is also required to ensure it is done, and there is also public liability. That is the position around the country; it may vary slightly, but there is a policy in each local authority. That could potentially be over and above the cost of repair if a person has a liability for that part of the footpath and if the leak happens to be there. Has the delegation discussed this issue with Irish Water?

A leak is more likely to occur outside a house when there are severe weather events, and the location of the meter then becomes an issue. Is it the case in other countries that the liability is on the outside? If one has a problem with a gas or electricity appliance one will get it repaired; the same happens if the loo or the bath is leaking. The area between the meter and the house is where there will be the greatest difficulty, with the necessity of digging up paths and so on. What is the position in other countries in respect of such issues? The location of the meters appears to be an extreme liability that will cause major problems. Who decided on the location?

In regard to commercial charges, if the shop is downstairs and the living quarters are upstairs, the charge is €250 as opposed to €488, as it is just the one charge. Is it intended to charge fully, or will there be two tariffs, a domestic tariff and a commercial tariff, which would obviously involve a substantial increase on the commercial side? The existing commercial free allowance for the house is 200,000 litres, as opposed to 30,000 litres.

That becomes an issue. They are potential significant new charges. The delegation might give us their thoughts on them.

It said it benchmarked against other countries, but I cannot but note that we have the most expensive electricity in Europe. We have a dispersed population pattern, but we also have a dispersed pattern of water mains. I am concerned that we are being asked to compare Ireland to other countries. A comparison between Ireland and other countries in regard to electricity does not produce an average cost for Ireland. Our charges are excessive.

The other issue is estates that have not been taken in charge. I presume once they are occupied there would be an obligation to sign a form in order to receive a free allowance. The developer retains control of an estate until it is taken in charge. What is the first fix policy in regard to such situations? I know of situations where shortcuts were taken underground and cheap fittings were used. Irish Water will find serious problems and shortcomings with some systems for which individuals may have to pay. The issue is not just the location of pipes, but also the quality of some of what was laid. I will revert to the delegation if I have any supplementary questions.