Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would also like to speak on the capital investment requirements. We heard at earlier meetings that Irish Water's long-term investment planning strategy has been set out and that the investment required to address all known deficits is estimated to be circa €13 billion. Is the overall €13 billion figure achievable in the absence of a direct charging regime? It would appear from answers given to Deputy Barry Cowen that the capital investment programme can be met with the State being the main customer. Therefore, is this figure of €13 billion achievable with the State as the main customer? Is the timeframe for the implementation of the capital plan feasible without a direct charging regime? Those are my first two questions. I have two more, but perhaps those two might be answered first.