Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The Deputy referred to the answer provided in March and will know that the report was commissioned at the end of July. A draft report will be before us shortly, so the Government will be examining all the issues he raised. When that report is to hand we will make decisions that will bring into effect what is in the programme for Government. There is no doubt about what we will do and the issues are clear. The report will outline the type of structure to be in place when Irish Water is established. All the issues mentioned by the Deputy will be dealt with.

The programme for Government states that there will be an allowance for every household and that charges will be for usage in excess of that allowance. People will have discretion as to how they use their water allowance. When the report is published we will be examining all the issues the Deputy raised in his question.

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