Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Approximately 4,000 people are currently working in the water services programme, with 4,000 others providing ancillary services. The installation of meters will provide jobs for 1,500 to 1,800 people each year for at least three years. We will have more people working than ever before.

The Deputy asked what will be Irish Water, and that question will be answered in the report. Recommendations will be made which will not be binding on the Government and when the Minister gets that report, certainly by October this year, there will be absolute clarity as to what Irish Water will be doing. Recommendations may even indicate a possibility of an existing semi-State entity becoming Irish Water. There could also be a completely new programme. The question of employment is critical and more people, rather than fewer, will be working in water services because of our future investment programme.

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