Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is not that the Bill has been amended.

When this legislation was first announced, the intention was for metering to be in place. We will not now have bills based on meters. I understand that the meters have a 15-year lifespan. Is that the case? Are there relevant contractual obligations?

I will run through a number of other issues that I wish to raise. I will be jumping all over the place. Some 90,000 individuals and families are on the housing waiting list. The extent of the problem varies around the country. Six local authority areas account for exactly half of the 90,000. Three are in Dublin, the others being Cork city, County Cork and Kildare. Needless to say, I have an interest, as I represent Kildare where the situation is bad. It is proportionately as bad elsewhere.

Will the Minister take a targeted approach in allocating developments that are ready to build, namely, those that have planning permission and land set aside and are deliverable? Will he take a targeted approach as regards the worst affected areas? For example, will he consider permitting local authorities to buy, or even buy to repair? This could bring accommodation on stream much more quickly. What initiatives to tackle the homelessness crisis is the Minister considering? Do they focus exclusively on homelessness or is he working with other Departments on, for example, rent caps? Has he completely dismissed that issue as part of the problem?

The Minister dismissed that as part of the problem. I see it on a daily basis as central to keeping people in their accommodation for another six, nine or 12 months.

Is it intended to complete Committee and Report Stages of the Water Services Bill next week? We were told that would happen at the Whips meeting last week and I have a doubt about it now because of a comment in the House that we would return to the legislation after Christmas. Is it the Minister's intention to complete the legislation if time is made available?