John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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My next question is for Irish Water. I have raised this issue previously and I appreciate the answer that comes back, which is that it is a matter for the regulator. I also know that development levies are now parked for a period so the point is not so relevant, but I am interested in greenfield versus brownfield development and how it is treated. Let us take the example of a development in Waterford City. An old nursing home is being converted into residential units. It is a fantastic development and people will be moving into it soon. There was existing water and wastewater infrastructure on the site that served a nursing home, housing the same number of people, if not more, as will be housed in the residential development. However, because the developer applied for planning permission, water and wastewater connection charges automatically applied even though the infrastructure was already there. If we are trying to encourage brownfield development, it seems crazy to penalise a developer who wants to bring forward such an innovative project. We got a resolution on this particular case and the waiving of development fees has obviously parked the matter. However, it is an issue that will arise again at the back end and I would like it to be resolved in the interim. We should take a different view.

The last time I raised this issue, Irish Water said it would not be opposed to waiving connection charges but that it is a matter for the regulator. What dialogue is going on in that respect? If a brownfield site that already has infrastructure in the ground is being treated the same as a greenfield site out on the edge of the city that has no infrastructure in place, then it is not advantageous to develop it.