Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What we need is the capacity to have an independent, commercial public body to borrow money off balance sheet and invest in the infrastructure that is necessary. An example is that Dublin City Council proposed to spend €350 million on upgrading the treatment works at Ringsend. The Minister has just come back from there and, because Irish Water is a public utility, it is able to do the work for €170 million, thereby saving the taxpayer €170 million and having that sum for further investment in other schemes. The Deputy has often spoken about environmental issues. In a number of towns raw sewage is being pumped into rivers, lakes and the sea. We cannot go on like this and we will not. The answer to the question is that the Government will not drop water contribution charges. It will, having listened to the people, introduce a regime that is clear, fair and affordable. When we make a decision on these matters, people will understand clearly that the contribution they will make will go to help fellow citizens in other places around the country who do not have the quality water supply in this city, Cork or other areas. I am sure the Deputy agrees with me that the €170 million saved today by the decision of Irish Water to invest in Ringsend will allow Irish Water to address the 20,000 houses in the country in which there are lead service pipes. We need to change this and must have a timescale within which to take out the pipes and restore them properly in order that people will understand that what was left to them for years has been removed and that they have a safe piping and water system of high standard.

See this speech in context