Professor John McHale:

All we can say is that we do not know how EUROSTAT will rule on this issue. We have been examining how it has ruled on similar issues in the past and the process it goes through. It could be that it sees the conservation grant essentially as being a way to increase public transfers to Irish Water.

It is yet another source of uncertainty in terms of how it will rule on this issue. It keeps its cards close to its chest and has not really indicated anything as of yet. From our point of view, it is a source of risk. If EUROSTAT was to decide Irish Water had to stay in the general Government accounts, we would be very much at risk of missing the 3% target. It is something at which we are looking and watching very carefully.

Mr. Conefrey can give an answer to the first part of the question about the CSO.