Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have some quick supplementary questions. Ms Graham said it was clear the understanding was that whatever savings accrued would be for the Exchequer and, therefore, there would not be costs left behind. Does that mean her understanding is that if a portion of the 1,000 full-time equivalents remains in local authorities or is redeployed to other functions in local authorities, the funding would have to come from existing allocations to local authorities and there would be no new money provided to fill the gap?

The witness is right and the independent assessment recommended a single utility but that did not consider the impact of transferring those functions to the single utility on local government, which is Ms Graham's responsibility. Does she have any concerns, not only given that functions have been transferred but staff have also be transferred, about the separate impact on local government. The expectation is a reduction in 1,000 full-time equivalents and 850 were from the operational side. Where would the rest be? How many people make up the 1,000 full-time equivalents? Do the old design, build and operate contracts represent value for money for the taxpayer? My question on the constitutional referendum was definitely evaded so I will press the witness on that.