Ms Maria Graham:

In response to the first question the Senator asked, the business plan developed by Irish Water to 2021 sets very particular targets in terms of investment to meet infringements, address leakage and all of the key things that seem possible with that level of investment and achievable over that period. That is reflected in the business plan. Obviously, the funding reflects the total use of water and the question then arises as to what an acceptable level of usage would be. The Department has not prepared anything at this stage on what our view would be on that. The Senator mentioned CER and the public water forum having a role, as the expert commission suggested. In looking at other utilities in which there have been water charges for some time, there are people who are low, medium and high users. A normal usage is something that reflects a good and proper conservative usage of water. What the margins might be above the average usage that would reflect a normal level is something that will need to be tested. I know that Irish Water has provided consumption figures. From a Department perspective, as the committee's work evolves, if it has scenarios that it wants the Department to cost with Irish Water, we would be very happy to do that.