John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

No. The Deputy is right. I have already said we will ensure we spend considerable additional moneys on conserving water and repairing mains pipes. It makes sense to do so. I am aware of terrible water supply difficulties, particularly in my constituency, that are caused by leaking pipes and exacerbated by the cold weather. We have to deal with that. The new programme will be fully inclusive of water conservation projects. It will show water conservation works that are in progress. New contracts are scheduled to go to construction over the next two or three years. The new programme will allow for the further progression of water conservation schemes through the planning stages. As Deputies are aware, some €130 million has been spent on water conservation measures since 2003. That expenditure has been based on the needs assessments of the water services authorities. There is potential for contracts valued at over €300 million to commence over the next three years. The intention is to facilitate this under the 2010-12 investment programme. Most of the funds will be invested in the rehabilitation or replacement of the equivalent of 650 km of mains.

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