Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is all there to be seen. There has been a shared concern during the course of the debate this week to ensure we have significant investment in the water services infrastructure.

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That is now happening because we have created Irish Water as a public utility with a capacity to access off-balance sheet funding in the future. Contrary to assertions last night, investment is already increasing; capital expenditure on water services infrastructure should see an increase averaging €100 million in each of the years 2015 and 2016, in comparison to approximately €350 million this year. That does not include investment in domestic metering, which will reduce customer-side leakage and conservation measures, and assist Irish Water to make more targeted improvements and increase operational efficiency on the system.

I accept that Irish Water needs to communicate the major initiatives it has undertaken much more strongly, such as building a detailed record and database of all water and wastewater assets in the country, something that has never been done before, and it is vital to get the best value from the assets and to prioritise planned maintenance and investment. It must also explain again the justification for its establishment costs, build customer support and asset management systems. Irish Water must remind the public that the regulator approved and allowed 95% of its establishment costs. By comparison with similar water change programmes in the UK, the change in this country has been seen to be delivered at a comparable and efficient level.

The proposal by the Opposition and Fianna Fáil to leave things as they are is simply not an option. I do not believe the public would thank us if we continue with a 40% leakage rate, cryptosporidiosis in the public water system, lead pipes serving many of the public and a lack of capacity in large urban centres. Rather than undermining, scaremongering and spreading fear and misinformation among the public, which is what the Opposition is doing-----

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