Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity, prior to the summer recess, to establish what progress has been made by Irish Water in respect of the provision of water services to the public at large. Has Irish Water yet provided the Government with a detailed audit in which it is outlined what will be the reinstatement costs countrywide, the cost of supplying directly to Dublin from reservoirs such as that at Garryhinch and up-to-date information on the issues which persist in Dublin and other places? When it won the contract, Irish Water indicated that it would provide such an audit in the months immediately following. However, it has yet to be made available and we have yet to be made aware of the costs involved in order that we might make at least a calculated guess at what might be the ultimate bill for the taxpayer.

What is the position with regard to local authority staff and the negotiations with them and Irish Water in respect of proposed contracts into the future? What will be the length of such contracts and will staff - contrary to the position which has obtained until now - be offered permanent positions?

The final matter to which I wish to refer relates to local authority representation. It is incumbent on the Minister of State to inform the House that he will use the powers relating to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in order to ensure that an adequate number of suitable local authority representatives will be appointed to the board. If nothing else, this will ensure that the tenuous link between local authorities and the provision of water services will be retained. Will the Minister of State confirm that the troika has given the Government permission to delay the imposition of charges for water on the public until after the local and European elections?

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