Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is not what is written in the legislation. It is not mentioned that it is specifically for that purpose, and I have a difficulty with it.

I agree there is a need for co-ordination. I fully accept this because I know of the difficulty in my area. Within 15 miles we have three separate water authorities. With joined-up thinking the level of investment required would be significantly less. Roscommon County Council submitted proposals to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to augment its public supplies through a link to the adjoining local authority so that if the public water supply decreased or was contaminated it could borrow water from the adjacent local authority. The Department specifically refused to allow for augmentation of supply even between systems in one local authority, never mind across county boundaries. If the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government had lived up to its responsibilities with regard to co-ordination we would have a far more effective system in place and there might not have been a need for this agency to be established in its current guise. It would significantly reduce the overall cost of investment, as a result of which the overall cost of producing water would also be reduced.

On average 145 litres of water are used on a daily basis in a household. One fifth of this is used for washing machines, one third is used for showers and baths and just under one third is used for toilets. The discretionary amount is relatively small. What is the scale of leakage before water comes to the householder and after it goes across the threshold? What provision will be made in this regard? I received a phenomenal water bill after the meter had been installed and the damage turned out to be just inside the meter. What will happen to people in this situation? What discretion will be provided to ensure people do not end up with phenomenal bills? Will the meters be read regularly? Will we have a statutory situation whereby, like electricity meters, they must be read once or twice a year and other meter readings are estimates? People receive phenomenal electricity bills, which cause huge financial hardship for many families. Will the same happen with water when it is metered? Will bills be based on estimated usage? Coming up to Christmas, will people will receive the mother and father of all bills for the previous year? Many questions about the legislation need to be answered, and it is a disgrace that it is being rammed through and that we will not get answers to these issues.

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