Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for taking this issue. There is considerable work going on in installing meters throughout the State. Unfortunately they are not fixing leaks but digging up footpaths to install meters. The work is causing considerable disruption to parking and traffic management particularly where streets are narrow. Streets are effectively closed for days as a result. People who are carrying out renovations or extensions to their houses are being seriously put out by this as are the contractors working for them, disabled people and people working night shifts. The Minister of State will say that they get a fortnight's notice. There are reports that people are claiming they are not getting notice. I am asking for a month's notice.

On a related issue, the installation of meters is resulting in other disruption. Damage is being caused in certain cases to water infrastructure. When I first raised the issue in February when the installation programme was in its early stages, Dublin City Council alone had spent €136,000 repairing leaks caused by the installation of meters. Who checks the meter for leaks? Have leaks been caused on either side of it? If it is the contractor, in many cases it is clear they have gone away and left the leak there. More importantly, who pays the Bill? At that stage the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government had paid €89,000 of the €136,000 bill. Presumably the city council picked up the remainder of it. However, the Department was very clear that it would no longer foot the bill. While we had been given to understand that Irish Water or the contractor would be responsible, it now appears this is not the case.

In February I estimated that if the level of leaks caused in Dublin were replicated across the country - meters are now being installed in Portlaoise and other towns in County Laois - the final bill would be in the region of €20 million to fix the leaks caused during installation. Does the Minister of State have any more up-to-date information on this?

New meters fitted in recent years in housing estates are being pulled out. While there may be an argument for taking out the meter, which looks identical to the one being fitted, the meter box is also being taken out. This means it is being claimed that the meter box was not the right size or up to the required standard. Because that has to be ripped out, a section of the footpath needs to be excavated and reinstated. I can see problems with this reinstatement because when a road or footpath is reinstated it looks lovely for about a year, but local authorities will have significant bills in about ten years because there will be footpaths with sections of subsidence all along them. They are being excavated and reinstated within a very short period of time and unless a very good job is done there will be subsidence.

Will people be given one month's notice? Will the contractors be responsible for the leaks, particularly the ones on the house side of the meters? We must not forget that the householders will pay the bill for any water that leaks out at that point. Do we have up-to-date figures for the cost of the leaks caused?

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