Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. Whether people like it or not, water is not free. To produce drinking water is costing this State vast amounts of money. Once again, the previous Government passed the parcel to this Government on the introduction of water charges. It is very disappointing that only 3% of the water produced is drunk, and that many households will face great difficulty in paying the charge. I hope the Commission for Energy Regulation, which will set the prices, will keep that in mind.

I pay tribute to the group water schemes and the local authorities for the work they have done over the years. There would not be any water services in many rural areas but for the group water schemes. They are the unsung heroes in that regard.

The local authorities introduced charges for agricultural pipes, which has proved to be a success. The farmers did not want to pay money for that at the time but many people realised that when something is free it can be taken advantage of. In some areas pipes were knowingly left running, which caused major problems for the system. The introduction of the charges has helped the council regulate the level of wastage, but has also put more funding into the water supply network. A nationwide approach is the right one to take and I hope Bord Gáis, along with the Ministers, will consider the plight of people who have to pay for this water.

I have never bought bottled water. I trust the quality of our water. I drink pints of water from my tap and other taps throughout the country and it has not done me any harm.

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