John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"— recognises the difficulties for families and businesses caused by the recent water supply disruptions;

— acknowledges the extensive efforts by county and city councils to prepare for potential water supply disruptions caused by recent extreme weather conditions, to minimise disruptions for households and businesses and to make alternative supplies available where necessary, and to restore water supplies as quickly as possible;

— recognises the importance of the work already carried out by the councils, and funded by the Exchequer, to develop water management systems and active leakage controls in identifying and repairing leaks;

— notes the comprehensive review of the water services investment programme 2010 – 2012 completed in 2010 which:

— provides for ongoing major investment in water services in the 2010 – 2012 period, with €495 million spent in 2010 and €435 million provided for 2011;

— accords the highest priority to investment in water conservation to address the unacceptably high levels of leakage in water supply systems; and

— includes contracts to the value of €320 million to commence on water conservation projects, including mains rehabilitation, in that period, which is more than double the investment in water conservation compared to the preceding seven years;

— notes the proposals in the National Recovery Plan 2011– 2014, published in November 2010, to:

— commence a programme of domestic metering to be funded by the National Pensions Reserve Fund; and

— establish an independent regulator for the water sector; and

— notes the Government's intention shortly to commence an assessment of the need for a national water authority, which will consider, inter alia, the role of such an authority, the costs and benefits of establishing it and its relationship with other actors in the sector including local authorities."

I could not be present to listen to some contributions to the debate as an almost identical motion is being discussed in the Seanad, which I had to attend. I had a brief meeting afterwards.

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