Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Not one cent was invested in the ground or any pipe. Following its series of U-turns, the Government has created he most inefficient billing method in the western world, which involves the Department of Social Protection administering a bizarre €180 million cash rebate scheme. The income from all of this will be €90 million. In addition, the Government has spent nearly double that amount on consultants. No wonder the people are disillusioned and disgusted by politics in this country. There is a fundamental lack of honesty on the part of the Government which has moved the deck chairs so many times on this issue that people cannot believe what Ministers say either in this Chamber or outside it. In April the Taoiseach said the maximum amount families would pay in water charges would be €240. Of course, this was before the local elections, when Ministers wanted to manage expectations and let on everything would be all right on the night. However, the Government's friend, the regulator, let it down again on 13 September when it confirmed that the cost would be €500 or more.

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