Mr. Colm Brady:

For the most part, where there are people prepared to do the work and manage the schemes on behalf of the members, there are those in group water schemes who would like to remain in them. There are quite a number of group water schemes that have made the decision or are waiting to make a decision to apply to be taken in charge by Irish Water, as it is now, under the terms of the Water Services Act. We have worked with Irish Water and the Department, in a partnership way, to develop protocols and procedures in this regard. Those protocols and procedures are as good as finalised at this stage and work has started on taking over those schemes. Obviously, those involved in the schemes would like to move this forward more quickly. We will work with the Department and Irish Water to do that but, of course, funding comes into all of this.

On the reduction in demand, it was a combination of leakage and change in practices, but it was all down to the fact that, whether they fixed the leak or changed their practices, with the volumetric charging in place they were going to have a cost. Even I, in my situation at home, came across a leak that I would not have come across only for my having a meter in place. It could potentially have cost thousands over years. As I knew it would happen and was aware of the implications for the environment and every other thing, I made sure to fix the leak.

That is what we are experiencing all the time. The other questions have been asked.