Mr. Eamon Timmins:

There was one question which we missed and has not been picked up on since. Deputy O'Dea spoke about water charges. This is the first day of chargeable water. We lobbied quite vigorously to protect pensioners living alone. Looking at the prices and the structure that came out yesterday, people living alone will be largely protected. We are talking maybe less than a euro - 50 cent - or one euro extra a week to pay, which coming out of a tight pension is enough. For a couple, it will be about €3.50 per week. When we say to the committee we are looking for a €5 increase in the State pension, €3.50 of that is gone already. The State will tell us it cannot afford it and ask from where the money is to come. Another €3.50 for couples who have not had an increase in their pensions since 2009 is gone. We welcome the measures put in place, including the 30,000 litre allowance every household will get and the sum of €100, which equates to about 20,000 litres based on the prices we saw yesterday. That will protect pensioners living alone. It will not be enough for a couple, if we are working off an average figure of €278, minus €100, making €178 for a couple. This works out at about €3.42 per week. That is quite a lot for people who are struggling already. We have spoken about fuel, heat, and prescription charges. Now they are also paying for the water. We need this €3.50 to be put into the mix when we are looking for an increase in core payments for the first time in a number of years.