Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Fine Gael supports the Government proposal to introduce domestic water meters. People need to be charged for excessive use of water after a certain allowance for household use. Too much water is being wasted and there is no appreciation of the fact that water is a finite resource. Over the winter months that issue came home to people. I support that view.

How will the Government pay for this major investment? Has the Minister quantified the investment that will be required to roll out the metering system? How long will it take? In the meantime how will the Government pay for the water investment programme as we approach 2015?

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