Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

It is difficult to get one's head around the concept of river basin management plans until we see something of what they entail. Everything about the system of water management seems complicated, with all these different agencies involved. As part of an evaluation some years ago of investment in water infrastructure under the national development plan, reference was made to the establishment of a water office. I share the Minister's concern about the establishment of another quango. Will he consider instead allocating that role to a section of his Department which would oversee issues to do with supply, demand, quality and so on?

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