Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

As the Deputy knows from my original reply, this is a once-off nominal charge for registration purposes. The charge I have in mind is no more than €50 but I will spell out the details of exactly what will be charged in 2012 when the legislation is published in a few weeks and brought before the House. The local government system will do the work; there will be no new empire building by any organisation. The local government staff already in place have spare capacity, as the Deputy correctly pointed out, and will do the job, but that will not be done until 2013 and 2014. There will be no annual inspection charge and no more registration charges.

The once-off registration charge I will introduce next year, for the purpose of meeting some of the costs associated with this for the local authorities, will ensure that groundwater is protected. It is in the interest of every householder, business and employer in this country that we have good groundwater. Inward investment opportunities were lost to this country, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle knows, due to the contamination of groundwater supply in County Galway. We have no wish to see that happen anywhere else. It is also in the interest of every householder to have good quality water from the tap rather than having to buy bottled water in the local shop.

See this speech in context