Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The local government fund is set aside, and I am happy that the fund will service the demands of the local authorities as set out in the Estimates we dealt with yesterday. Local authorities will not incur any expenditure on water service assets.

In regard to the €47 million from last year, we will provide the funding for what is required in 2015 but as the Deputy is aware, assets are in the process of being transferred so loans will transfer as well. There are no hidden costs to the taxpayer.

Regarding the Deputy's commentary on EUROSTAT and the CSO, they are both independent bodies. They have to do their own analysis based on the figures presented to them following auditing. I expect results from a EUROSTAT perspective in regard to its work some time next month.

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