Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the context of this calamitous matter, is the Minister going to outline where the staff who will be obliged to process claims will come from? The payout in respect of this grant is going to be bigger than that of any other social welfare scheme. I am not aware of any such scheme under which payments are made to every household in the country. This is going to be a huge bureaucratic undertaking. Where will these staff come from? Is the Government going to recruit additional staff and, if so, what will be the cost of this? If existing staff are going to be diverted, what will be the implications for people who are waiting for basic payments in order to survive? Will the Minister confirm that the total amount to be paid out is €130 million? Will he explain from where this money will come?

In the context of his earlier comments on the EU water directive, it is important that the Minister make a very clear statement at this juncture. I am concerned that he misled the Dáil in his earlier remarks and I want to give him the opportunity to clarify the position. He appears to be conflating a number of different issues, including the troika agreement and, for example, the water directive. These two matters are entirely separate. Will the Minister confirm that if he proceeds to introduce water charges on 1 January next, this will, de facto, end Ireland's exemption under Article 9.4 of the EU water directive? There is a facility under that article for any member state - if it can satisfy various conditions - not to seek to recover full costs in respect of water services. Ireland has managed to do this up to now.

Will the Minister confirm that if he proceeds from 1 January to introduce water charges, we will, de facto, have ended that facility?

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