Mr. Fintan Towey:

As I have said, the water services policy is designed to align with wider Government policies which, of course, have a very wide range of objectives including, obviously, those ones which the Deputy has referred to and itemised. Within that framework, there is a very large financial allocation towards seeking to ensure that those objectives are pursued. Uisce Éireann has a very extensive programme around the developing of capacity to ensure it can meet all of the housing needs and to ensure the various facilities it has do not fall below the necessary standards in respect of environmental compliance.

They are also seeking to redress all of the issues that exist with regard to existing plants that are not meeting the necessary standards. There is also a very extensive programme to tackle leakage. All of the work being done involves prioritising the fulfilment of the objectives assigned to Uisce Éireann within the available funding.