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

My point relates to final point made by Deputy Stanley. Can the Minister of State inform the House if any contracts have been confirmed or agreed between the Department and Irish Water and, if so, is it an overall contract on a countrywide basis with subcontractors on a regional basis, or what configuration will it have? There has been much deliberation by us and others in recent months on foot of representations from many within the sector, the plumbing sector especially, who felt that they were outside the loop in terms of any possibility they might have of securing gainful employment from what is proposed. There is further concern that it might be all swallowed up by an overall contract and subsumed on a regional basis for those who have certain turnovers well in excess of that to which many might be accustomed, both in my local town or that of the Minister of State.

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