Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has made it clear that water networks will remain in State ownership. Irish Water will be a semi-State company. Sinn Féin representatives will always look at the county manager or the Department for investment at local level but will never tell us where the money will come from. Sinn Féin should stand up and be counted and responsible. If the party wants investment in the water network, it should be prepared to put its shoulder to the wheel to back reforming legislation.

We must increase the level of investment and maintenance in a fair way. A rate of leakage of 44% tells me we have a dysfunctional and broken system.

Where there is leakage it will be quickly stopped because there will be a charge on it. I suspect that when water metres are installed, there will be a vast reduction in leakages. People will know from the outset that water is leaking because it will cost them. We must ensure households will have an adequate free threshold of water. In accordance with the polluter pays policy, it is important that, in principle, we charge those who use water to excess, inappropriately or wastefully. We will have public buy-in if the Minister provides for an adequate free threshold for normal domestic usage. That is only fair and right.

This is reforming legislation and there are huge challenges ahead. We are taking over a badly broken and unco-ordinated system. It is a national asset that will be co-ordinated and regulated, which is the way it should be done. I wish the Minister well.

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