Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, told an absolute falsehood on RTE television last night when he said that children, meaning those aged under 18, will have free water based on an allowance of 38,000 litres per year, or 104 litres per day. The Dublin region water supply project, which is sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, has noted that 148 litres per person per day is the current average usage. Moreover, its projection is that with all meters and charging in place, the best possible reduction that can be achieved by 2030 - 16 years from now - would leave average usage at 130 litres per day. In other words, the supposedly free allowance for 18 years olds is 44 litres per day fewer than current usage and 26 litres per day fewer than the supposed average when the optimum saving is in place. A 16 or 17 year old does not need to wash less, drink less or use fewer sanitary facilities than a 21 year old. The Minister's blanket claim of free water for under 18s is a blatant falsehood concocted by Fine Gael and the Labour Party to save their skins in the local, European and by-elections in the face of public anger at another austerity tax.

In accordance with Standing Order 48 of the Dáil, I give way for the 30 seconds remaining to me to allow the Minister to clarify or withdraw that falsehood.

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