Mr. Paul McGowan:

The Deputy also mentioned billing in January. We are currently considering a request as to whether or not the validation period for Irish Water, which is currently due to end on 31 October, might be extended to the end of November.

We hope to make a decision on that this week. In the event that a decision is taken to extend the validation period, that would have a knock-on effect in terms of when the first bills issue. It would probably mean that bills would not begin to issue until the end of January, but we have not made a decision on that as yet.

The question of PPS numbers was raised. Irish Water has been given the power to request PPS numbers under legislation. It is not a matter that we would have directed.