Mr. Paul McGowan:

The €425 is not the unsubvented cost. It is the default charge in the event that somebody does not declare or register with Irish Water. If we remove the allowances and assume it is a two-person household we get €425. The actual unsubvented cost of producing water, on average, is €594. There is no direct relationship between those two numbers. The default charge has been set on the basis of a two-adult household with no free allowances. It is not an unsubvented cost.