Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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These are the people I fear will be preyed upon by cowboy contractors unless a clear system of regulation is put in place. I flagged this issue with the departmental officials more than 12 months ago and it was discussed by this joint committee last January. I included this issue in my submission on the Water Services (Amendment) Bill and I am surprised that at year-end, those who have responsibility for the area of regulation have not been communicated with by the very same officials with responsibility for water services. In itself, that is surprising and it means a similar situation will develop as in the past, whereby in four or five years' time, members will come before this committee to ask what shall be done to deal with the elderly couple who spent €5,000 to upgrade their septic tank, only to then find out the contractor did not do it to a basic standard.