Mr. Jerry Grant:

I can but I certainly cannot predict accurate costs at this point. The studies I referred to regarding the Dublin and Cork main drainage schemes use various models to predict how rainfall intensities might increase. We have clear evidence that intensities are increasing and we have what are called pluvial summer storms that are causing flooding. We are trying to factor in these. We are also factoring in changes in tide levels because they impact on our overflows. It is clear huge investment will be driven and we believe this will happen at the back end of the water services strategic plan. Quite frankly, we will not have the capacity to do it earlier and we probably will not have much of the information because of the amount of work that needs to be done. We also have to look at our sites, particularly many of our wastewater plants, because naturally enough, they tend to be proximate to rivers and the coast. We think we will have to spend quite a bit of money on the defence of our infrastructure over the period but it is a significant cost for which we have put in a notional figure. In time I have no doubt it will become a very big challenge.