Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. The need to pay for water was always going to be seen a contentious issue. However, it was never previously seen as an issue in this country despite the fact that people in rural areas, particularly those who own farms and people in group water schemes, pay for their water. I am of the view that the real point has been missed during this debate. The nature of that point is that regardless of what the Government proposes, the Opposition will just say "No" to it. Those in Fianna Fáil set out what they had planned to do if they had been returned to Government in 2011. Other Members have indicated that they are completely against water charges but they have not outlined what they would do differently. The same people are also opposed to the property tax and to tax increases of any kind.

This matter relates to the need for major investment in our water services infrastructure. It has been stated that the money relating to what is being done at present should be used to fix leaky pipes and that this would solve all our problems. However, the latter would not give rise to the difficulties that exist across the entire country being resolved. Many counties have been obliged to issue boil notices in respect of water supplies. Those counties should be the subject of particular attention when Irish Water announces its investment programme.

A great deal has been stated in recent weeks with regard to how much people are going to be obliged to pay for water and in respect of those who are going to receive special dispensations. I welcome the fact that those with specific medical conditions and the elderly will be assisted in the context of paying their bills. However, the latter does not mean that the level of anxiety experienced by these individuals has been reduced to any great degree. It is important that we should make it easy for people to pay the charge.

The most important point in respect of this matter does not relate to what is going to happen now but rather to what will occur in the future. The majority of people do not have a difficulty in paying for water as long as they can see that there will be a positive outcome. It was in this context that much of the anger about Irish Water and the set-up costs relating to it arose. Perhaps this was a communications issue and the wrong words may have been used at the wrong time. People immediately became extremely angry when they heard about the millions of euro used to establish this State utility. Setting it up was never going to be easy, however, particularly when one considers the level of expertise that was going to be required. Such expertise is expensive.

What people now want to see is two things. First, they want the money put into Irish Water - taxpayers' money - to be put into proper infrastructure, not only now but for the next 20 years. Second, they want any money we invest in Irish Water now to actually save us money in the long run.

We should ensure one thing in particular since some people are rather angry about this issue. For the Government to get this right, Irish Water must be set up on a sound financial basis because if the State utility is to work, it must be resourced. If we are honest with ourselves, a decision such as this should have been made many years ago when there was far more disposable income to pay for it. The troika may have left the country, but some of the measures it proposed and that are widely used throughout Europe are being implemented. Anger comes from the fact that people have never had less disposable income. That is what angers them the most. These measures should have been brought forward 15 or 20 years ago when there was a greater ability to pay. We should be cognisant that this is why people are so upset. From meeting many people I understand they have major concerns about paying for water because this is something we have never done. It has been said we pay for it through income tax which is spent and prioritised ineffectively. For the first time, this will allow us to put a vast amount of money into water infrastructure, which is a welcome development.

The Government committed to getting the information out before the local elections. That has now taken place. Some detail remains to come from the bone and the regulator will have to do this. It is important that the regulator also examine the costs incurred in setting up Irish Water and ensure all of the money was spent correctly and that if any of it was not spent correctly, the bill will fall on Irish Water, not the taxpayer. Only then will people be able to see that the money invested in Irish Water is being well spent and will gives us the quality of water we need.

Those of us living in rural Ireland, especially in the constituency of Galway East, know all about this issue. We are looking for broadband and more power. Another thing institutions and companies are looking for is a proper water supply. We must get all three right. We are still way behind in certain parts of the country, but we are working towards getting this done.

I have no issue with paying for water. I realise this is a conservation measure as much as anything else, although some do not want to believe this. For it to work in the future, we must be able to show that the money being invested in Irish Water is being well spent, that as a result, the infrastructure is being upgraded and brought up to a proper standard and that, consequently, we will be in a better situation where jobs will be created, sustained and spatially spread throughout the country.

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