Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I am glad Deputy Daly has intimate knowledge of the matters. The same company which carried out the independent assessment for Irish Water did it for Scottish Water, and it would understand a thing or two in the establishment of a public water utility for the provision of essential services for the people of Ireland. I understand some of the data presented in the independent assessment by PricewaterhouseCoopers on Scottish Water has been disputed by the local authority professional officers section of SIPTU in a submission to the Department. My Department is examining all the submissions it received but I should stress that the data concerned were contained in an appendix to the report for illustrative purposes only. It was one part of an assessment of 11 different types of delivery models examined.

The Deputy is again being selective in her quotes, as she was with a previous question. The skills within local authorities will continue to be an essential part of the knowledge and expertise required to roll out this essential project. I assure local authority staff that the service level agreements to be drawn up as part of this policy between Bord Gáis and the Department, with local authorities, will continue to be maintained.

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