Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The point I am making is that in the case of design, build and operate contracts local authorities and, more recently, Irish Water retain ownership of the site and infrastructure and the private entity provides the finance and designs, builds and operates the facility. Ultimately, ownership remains in the hands of Irish Water and, previously, the local authorities. The issue the Minister raised in terms of a conflict of ownership of the infrastructure does not arise because ownership is retained by Irish Water.