Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services

Public Water Forum

1:30 pm

Photo of Martin HeydonMartin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The expert commission's report touched on public engagement and transparency. In the confidence and supply agreement that underpins the Government, there is a commitment to establish an external advisory body on a statutory basis to build public confidence in Irish Water. How does Dr. Collins see the role of the Public Water Forum in the future with the establishment of the external advisory body and the commitment that legislation is forthcoming on it later this year? Does he think the Public Water Forum and the external advisory body can complement each other or does he have any concerns about duplication?

The expert commission's report, which is the basis of our work here predominantly, stated the Public Water Forum should be extended. I admire the work it does on €30,000 per annum. Has Dr. Collins a figure in mind for the increase he would need to expand its role? I had to do some research about the Public Water Forum. Even as a public representative, I was not very au faitwith its work. There would be merit in the marketing element and looking to expand this work. There is much valuable work and input the Public Water Forum could have in making us aware that the activity we do around our water courses impacts directly down and how it is all interlinked. When we talk about water and water charges, the constant rebuke we get from people of a certain view is that water is free because it falls from the sky. However, we are talking about treated water, which is a very different matter and which involves a very significant cost.

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