Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish I could say I was happy with everything about Irish Water. I wish I could say it was running smoothly and there were no problems, but I cannot do so. There are many concerns. I agreed with and supported the establishment of a body because, in 2004, when I was a member of the local authority, we received information on an investment programme for the next three to four years, under which every town and village in the county was to be provided with new sewerage systems and connected to new water schemes, but this did not happen. There has been some investment but the grandiose plans laid out were not reached.

We have standards for drinking water and discharge into our seas and lakes to which we must adhere, and this requires investment. The rationale behind establishing Irish Water was to be able to borrow off balance sheet in order that it would not add to the deficit. We have targets under the stability treaty and other treaties by which we must abide and we are still working to reduce our deficit. There are fears with regard to privatisation. The legislation states the company will not be privatised and I believe it needs to be retained in public ownership.

With regard to the communication failures, a slight comparison can be made between Irish Water and Student Universal Support Ireland. In its first year SUSI performed very poorly with regard to information, answering phone calls and responding to communication via e-mail to Deputies and the public. This was rectified over a period and I can see no problems with its message. There have been improvements in Irish Water over the past week with regard to returning phone calls and e-mails, but this must continue and more work needs to be done to ensure all these issues are sorted out. Irish Water is not alone as a semi-State in having communications failures. Any organisation or semi-State body which fails to address the concerns of public representatives fails the people because we represent them and we go to semi-State bodies with the concerns of the people.

Queries have been raised over the past week about call-out charges, and perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, or the Minister, Deputy Kelly, will clarify these. If there is a leak on the road or at the meter, it is the responsibility of the Irish Water. If there is a leak in one's attic or driveway or the footpath within one's property, it is one's responsibility as a home owner, as it is now and as it was last year. I presume people do not have to call out Irish Water and perhaps we will get clarification on this. I presume they can call out their own plumber or carry out repairs themselves where possible. In such cases they would not have to call out Irish Water.

It is not right or proper for a newly established company to have the level of bonuses we have seen and it should be changed and, as other speakers have stated, this needs to be dealt with by the chairman and the board.

Service level agreements between local authorities and Irish Water are in train. In 2009 and 2010, we had issues because of the big freeze and the resultant problems with leaks and the necessary repairs. If this happens again, we must ensure the local authorities and Irish Water can work together and quickly to ensure any problem which may develop is dealt with.

There is genuine concern regarding the ability to pay and I welcome the Government measures put in place. There is concern and confusion about this and until all meters are installed, we need to consider a capped charge, especially where many adults live in one household. There should be a flat rate payment until such time as all meters are installed and people can get used to conserving water.

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