Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I know Sinn Féin must campaign on some issues but this will not be one of them.

I wish to nail some more political myths put forward in the contributions of the Sinn Féin Deputies. There will not be a flat rate water charge but a pay as one uses system through water metering. It will operate as an effective water conservation measure and will deal with a finite resource in the interests of households, businesses and jobs.

Water networks will continue in public ownership and will not be privatised. A rainwater harvesting programme will be included as part of our water conservation programme. There will be a generous allowance to assist low income families. If people want to waste water, they will pay for it, which should be the case.

I am determined to change the system to deal with the leaks in it. I pointed out that €320 million in these times is not a bad investment. I hope it will achieve most of the objectives but if not, we will have to continue with that programme. I agree with Deputy MacLochlainn that it makes no sense to have such disparities between local authorities in regard to leaks in the pipe network. Much work is required in water mains rehabilitation and it is my intention to do it.

I wish to improve water quality because people will only pay for water if there is a good quality product. People will only be satisfied paying for any service if it is a good quality product. We cannot underestimate the challenge to improve water quality to the extent we need to in order to ensure we meet our side of the bargain by giving the people a good quality product.

We want to ensure we have good volumes of water. There will be controversy in Deputy Charles Flanagan's area from which we will bring water from the River Shannon to meet, ironically, the restrictions which must be put in place in June 2011 on water supplies in Dublin. There are challenges in regard to volumes of water in addition to those in regard to the quality of water. It is a big undertaking for the State to meet those challenges.

I outlined my plan in 2009 in regard to these matters. We sought a mandate on the basis of water meters and we got one to implement that policy, which we intend to do. The people also voted for the Labour Party on the basis of the same policy.

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