Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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I ask the Minister of State to clarify the situation regarding the installation of water meters. My understanding, having met with Bord Gáis and having raised this issue with it, is that regional contractors will be appointed and that in turn, those regional contractors will appoint local people, through the county councils, to install water meters. There appears to be some misinformation going on in this regard, though not on the part of my colleagues on the right. However, Deputy Mattie McGrath made a public statement recently saying that no local people would be able to afford to get the contract, because a company would require a minimum turnover of €400,000. I believe the Deputy is confused in that regard and he is mixing this requirement up with that for the regional contractors. Will the Minister of State clarify the situation? Will local tradespeople get the opportunity to install water meters?