Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a brief supplementary question. To quote the expert commission report, whose recommendations we are now considering:

The Expert Commission recommends that this be reviewed [that is, the public versus the group schemes] when the allowances for consumers on public supplies are determined [and I presume they will be at some stage by us as a committee] and that equity for group schemes and private wells be maintained through additional subsidy or other means.

What Ms Graham has outlined to us is what existing subsidies and estimates have provided for. She outlined some of it in her answer, but my question is whether she foresees an enhanced grant scheme, for example, for private wells and sewerage schemes as a result of the recommendation from the expert commission and possibly as a result of what this committee may recommend. Is the Department working towards this in its Estimates preparation? Ms Graham has already outlined that €17 million is what is normally provided for. This will obviously create a much greater demand and expectation. We need to hear if that type of preparation is being implemented in the Department. We are due to report in a few weeks and I think it is very likely to have an impact.