Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If we were to fail the market corporation test, the consequence would be a €700 million capital cost being incurred by Irish Water which would impact on the Government deficit and would have serious implications in that regard.

In explaining the rules, therefore, the CSO has set out what the maximum subvention can be for 2015 and 2016. I want to make it clear that the Government has not signed off on any of these figures. We think it is important to discuss the elements surrounding that, including categories, vulnerability, ability to pay and levels of metering. We hope to conclude that within the next two weeks.

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