Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I will not stray into an area mentioned earlier by Deputy Higgins, namely, water charges. However, in the Chamber yesterday, in the context of the issue of water, the expenditure of €1 billion and the installation of water meters, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, mentioned that a new quango, Irish Water or presumably Uisce Éireann, will be established to take over supply and maintenance from 34 local authorities. Obviously, this will reduce the powers and functions of local authorities. I do not see this in the legislative programme although the Minister of State expressed his hope that legislation would be ready to set up that quango before the end of the year. Obviously, it also would deal with the installation of-----

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