Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It needs to be done on a national basis, which is why Irish Water was established. There are establishment costs associated with Irish Water, and they run to about 1% of the total cost of water service delivery over the next decade. The amounts of money are very large - of course they are. That is why it is essential there is value for money for any money that is spent in the establishment of Irish Water, as there would be in the establishment of any company.

It is essential there is transparency for that, which is why the chief executive and the management of Irish Water were before two Dáil committees this week to provide the information about how that money is spent. It is also why the Government is applying the Freedom of Information Act to Irish Water in order that the public can have full information about what is spent.

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