Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

The consultation process will offer people the opportunity to make an input into this process. I will be sending in a submission.

Has the Minister considered the issue of road-openings affecting the installation of water meters? Hundreds of thousands of these will have to be performed on footpaths and in housing estates. What will happen in an estate that has not been taken in charge by the local authority, as a road-opening licence cannot be made by the local authority in such a case? What is the legal position on this? Will meters be external or smart internal systems?

Last year during the cold spell, it was discovered that many water pipes into houses were only four inches under the ground when the minimum requirement was 18 inches. Water meters will be much larger than four inches. How will they fit into these installations? Once temperatures go down below zero, these meters could also freeze. Many water supply pipes to houses may have to be put down further into the ground.

The Minister of State estimates the overall cost of rolling out water meters will be €500 million. That breaks down to the small figure of approximately €250 per house. Given the extent of the work to be done, the roll-out of metering may be closer to €900 million, even with reduced rates.

From the experience of our neighbours across the water where water meters have been fitted, it has not led to a significant reduction in water consumption. Having dual flush toilets can lead to a 12% reduction in water consumption. Building standards regulations could be introduced to ensure when toilets are replaced it is with a dual flush model, as happens in Spain. That is a practical measure to cut down household water consumption which could be introduced by the Minister.

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