Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his reply which is scant on detail. We are aware of the commitment in the four year recovery plan to introduce water charges and a site valuation tax, but I would like the Minister to elaborate on the new flat rate tax he has proposed because it has slipped in under the radar. I am sure his own party's backbenchers and coalition colleagues are disturbed about it. The many hundreds of thousands who voted for the Minister and his party are also alarmed that within their first 100 days in government he will introduce a new utility charge. How much will it be? How will it be levied? Who will pay it? Will there be exemptions for pensioners, the unemployed and those who cannot afford to pay? Will there be a waiver scheme? Could the Minister provide detail on the scheme, primarily, how much it will cost?

To what will the money be dedicated? Will it go into the local authority pot or will it be channelled in a specific direction? Will it be specifically earmarked for the provision of water meters and to cover the cost of their installation?

There is scant detail on the scheme. At the weekend The Sunday Times posed the question, "Will the real Minister Hogan please stand up?" in regard to the matter. We seek clarity as there is confusion and there has been a muddying of the waters on a site property tax, the introduction of water charges and the new charge.

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