Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

That is correct. It is obviously a significant problem that only slightly more than 50% of households are metered.

In the submission Irish Water has made to the committee, it is indicated that only about 3.35% of households use more than 800 litres of water. The submission further states that if leaks are excluded, the figure falls to 1.27% of households. It further states that other factors might reduce the figure further, for instance, age and health. It is further stated that the excessive use charge will not generate significant income. I ask Irish Water and the regulator how it can be cost-effective to implement an excessive use charge on the basis of such very limited excessive usage. Surely, it cannot be cost-effective. The regulator has stated that Irish Water should not proceed with metering, that it should stop it or park it or whatever but not go ahead with it in any case. I think it was suggested that if metering were to continue, it would make less money available for other water and wastewater related services. I would like confirmation as to whether this is correct.