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

Following the disclosure of the debacle that was the excessive costs associated with the establishment of Irish Water, particularly the €85 million spent on consultants, the Government, including Ministers of both party persuasions, committed last January to openness and transparency. It was indicated that there would be a commitment to engagement with the public in the Commission for Energy Regulation's consultation process on the pricing for the provision of water services for homes. Unfortunately, while the process has begun, the submissions of Irish Water and the Government have yet to be lodged, let alone published. Did the Minister bring to the Cabinet some weeks ago a wide range of proposals dealing with the content of my question, including proposals on the amount of public subvention, the first-fix policy, the low-income subsidy, the level of free allowance and the manner in which Irish Water will bill those who have yet to be furnished with a meter?

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