Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, Irish Water was established for the purpose of borrowing money to invest in providing proper pipe works and treatment plants and fixing leaks. Almost 20,000 people are on boil water notices every day. Some of these have had to buy or boil water for as long as a decade. We hope that in County Roscommon in 2015 this issue will be eliminated from a number of major schemes. The Environmental Protection Agency has advised that remedial action is required on 16% of supplies that are at risk, most of which are in Dublin city and Cork. One million people live at risk every day because of this situation. There are significant supply constraints in this city, as I pointed out in regard to the difficulties in Ballymore Eustace last year, and 40% of the water leaks away. Some 36% of water treatment plants failed to meet the EPA's effluent standards in 2011 and the European Commission has launched a pilot infringement case against Ireland in regard to 80 treatment plants. The taxpayer does not have the resources to provide the investment for all of these matters to be dealt with properly. That is why Irish Water, as a commercial State entity keeping this system in public ownership, will be able to borrow money on the markets-----

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